President Robert Kocharyan has today hosted the delegation, led by Olivier Decamp, South-Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia regional director of the European Bank of Development and Reconstruction. {BR} Robert Kocharyan has voiced wish that European Bank of Development and Reconstruction takes more active participation in development of the economy of Armenia. According to Mr Decamp their visit pursued...

On February 20 President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on nominating Prosecutors for Justice Council. {BR} Albert Margaryan and Arthur Mkrtchyan were appointed Prosecutors of Justice Council for 5-year-long period of office.

Freedom of Information Civic Initiative on behalf of three Armenian NGOs has disseminated the following Statement: In February 12 the Armenian Government has approved a draft Law developed and produced by the Ministry of Justice. This draft Law changes essentially the recently adopted Law on Freedom of Information, recognized by various international organizations as one of the best Laws on Freedom...

Under the Collective Security Treaty Council’s decision made on April 28, 2003, Armenian representative is given an opportunity to become the head of Military Cooperation Department of the Treaty.{BR} Armenian government nominated Vladislav Musaelyan to the post.

Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday. "At 5:30 am on February 19, Lieutenant Gurgen Margarian of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, posted to Budapest to participate in the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme’s English language training course, was brutally murdered in his sleep - axed by an Azerbaijani military officer attending the same course.{BR} His attempt...

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sent condolence message to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and all Iranian people on Thursday in connection with yesterday’s train crash in Iranian province of Khorasan.{BR} “I am deeply saddened by a huge losses caused by this tragic accident. I express my personal condolences along with whole Armenian nation to you and Iranian people”, the message says.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has approved a new strategic plan to guide USAID programs in Armenia.{BR} The strategy for 2004-08 emphasizes employment generation, improved democratic and economic governance, and an expanded social safety system as central themes. In order to achieve the overarching goals, USAID will concentrate on the development of human and institutional capacity....

President Kocharyan issued an order on appointing new members to Justice Council Wednesday, as the council previous members’ term in office has already expired.{BR} According to the order Mnatsakan Martirosyan, Harutyun Movsisyan and Tigran Petrosyan become first instance court judges. Review court judges are Suren Antonyan and Arshak Khachatryan. Karen Matevosyan appointed to the post of...

President Robert Kocharyan has today met Garegin II, the Catholicos of all the Armenians. President and Catholicos have discussed issues regarding relations and cooperation between state and church. {BR} Stressing necessity of joining for solution to the nationwide problems, they voiced satisfaction over efficiently progressing collaboration of the state and the church.

On February 12 Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received the delegation led by Enrique Gelbard, Washington Office representative of International Monetary Fund. {BR} Issues regarding the social and economic state, the privatization process, progress in marzes, support for small and medium business undertaking in Armenia were discussed at the meeting. Both sides stressed Parliament...

This morning the Armenian peacemakers left for Kosovo. The Information Service of Armenian Defense Ministry told this. The Armenian platoon in the composition of the Greece battalion will partake in the peacemaking operations in Balkans. {BR}

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili announced that he didn’t demand to immediately call off the Russian military bases from Georgian territory. {BR} Ria-Novosti Agency informs that talking about the Georgian-American military collaboration Georgian President said: ”No need to worry because of 30 American military instructors. Let Russia send instructors and teach our military men”.

Armenia (ICRC). On 9 February 2004, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), acting as a neutral intermediary, facilitated the transfer of one Azerbaijani military serviceman and handed him over to the concerned Azerbaijani authorities. {BR} The operation took place between Yeraskhavan and Nakhijevan with the full cooperation of all sides. ICRC delegates had visited the Azerbaijani...

President Robert Kocharyan has today received the delegation led by Vladimir Chub, Rostov Governor of Russia. {BR} Issues regarding intensification of Armenian-Russian bilateral cooperation were discussed at the meeting. The interlocutors stressed consolidation of economic relations between Armenia and the separate districts of Russia.

Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan has today received Russia Rostov Governor Vladimir Chub and the delegation he heads. {BR} Taking into account the scientific and economic potential of the Armenian Commune of 100.000 residing in Rostov Province, Governor underlined establishment of relations between the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the branch of Science Academy of Russian Federation recently set up in Rostov.

In Nagorno Karabakh NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan met OSCE Chair representative Anjey Kaspscick. {BR} The interlocutors considered as intolerable any action of violation of truce regime. They also discussed the situation around the negotiations on Karabakhi conflict settlement.

Robert Kocharyan has today met the special delegation on controlling the Armenia’s obligations within CE Ministers’ Committee, led by Ambassador Pietro Herkule Ago.{BR} Mr Ago voiced satisfaction over abolition of capital punishment. Issues regarding the constitutional reforms and improvement of the electoral legislation were discussed at the meeting. According to CE representative,...

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received Romania’s Ambassador to Armenia Nicolae Yordake on Thursday. Intergovernmental and interparliamentary relations between the two countries were discussed at the meeting.{BR} Issues related to signing cooperation agreement between the countries’ parliaments were discussed as well.

Tomorrow the delegation headed by Gyoran Len Marker, Special Envoy of OSCE PA Chair on Nagorno Karabakh will arrive in Yerevan. {BR} The delegation will meet Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and Armen Rustamyan, Chair of Parliament Committee on Foreign Relations. On February 6 the delegation members will meet Armenian Defense Minister Serj Sargssyan and Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

Though NKR president Arkadi Ghukasyan refused to arrive in Yerevan to meet Heiki Talvetie, EU Special Envoy to South Caucasus, they had a conversation. {BR} Under Talvetie’s initiative a telephone conversation with NKR president took place. Talvetie expressed regret that he couldn’t visit Nagorno Karabakh because of the dense schedule of his visit to the region. But he voiced willingness...

Archbishop Mesrop Mutafyan, Patriarchy of Constantinople and Turkey met with a car accident. {BR} As the Turkish media inform, the car crashed on the way from Saklekent to Antalia. Ecclesiastic was wounded in nose and legs. After the crash he was taken to Antalia’ Central Hospital. Under the preliminary information, the accident happened because car brakes failed.

We have today received a laconic press release from the presidential residence: Robert Kocharyan has left for a short rest. He will take a rest in Armenia. {BR}

Though the expression “Karabakh and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan” was considered as defeat for the foreign super department, Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan marked 2003’ activity report of Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry as satisfactory. {BR} Minister Vardan Oskanyan introduced the works done in some spheres – regional policy and global policy /terrorism prevention,...

Armenian government’s commission on benevolent programs coordination convened firs in this year session presided by the commission chair Vladimir Movsissyan. {BR} Nine programs were decided to be put into reality in 2004 and 2005. Three programs focused on science development promotion were among them.