President Robert Kocharyan met Hrant Hovhannissyan, Chair of War Veterans’ Committee and {BR} Suren Hovhannissyan, acting chairman of the Union on War, Working, Armed Forces and Law-Enforcement bodies Veterans. They have talked about the social and economical situation in the country.

On January 14 Robert Kocharyan signed the Law on “Mass Information”, approved by Parliament. Law regulates {BR} the relations on implementation of mass information, sets the guarantees for providing the right of speech freedom in the information sphere, the clauses of journalists’ accreditation, refusal of the spread information and implementation of the right for reply.

On January 13 President Robert Kocharyan signed the Law on “Material Responsibility of Servicemen”, approved by Parliament. The Law sets {BR} the conditions of the material responsibility for the damaged property of a military unit by the servicemen while performing service duties, and the order and the volume for compensation.

Robert Kocharyan signed the Law on “Alternative Military Service”, approved by Parliament. The Law regulates {BR}the relations regarding replacement of obligatory military service by the alternative one and sets the order for organizing and executing the alternative levy.

Archbishop Hovnan Terteryan, the leader of the Northern America Diocese, has transferred $ 20.000 on Saint Echmiadzin account {BR} to later convey that sum to Iraqi Diocese leader Bishop Avag Asaturyan and the Armenian Diocese Board in Iraq. The Information Service of Northern America Diocese informs about this.

The Armenian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, which is in France for the official visit on the invitation of France’s Senate Chairman Christian Ponsle, met France Parliament Chair Jan Louis de Bret on January 14. Parliament Information Service underlined {BR} that the meeting passed under the atmosphere of full mutual understanding. Jan Louis de Bret voiced willingness...

Under the decisions of the Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan, Karen Aristakesyan and Alisa Adamyan were relieved of their posts for Deputy Ministers of Culture and Youth. By another decree of PM, Alisa Adamyan was nominated the councilor of PM.{BR} Gagik Gyurjyan and Karine Khodikyan were appointed the Deputy Ministers of Culture and Youth. According to PM’s decree, Hranush Kharatyan was nominated...

Under the instructions of Garegin II, the Catholicos of all the Armenians, Iraq Diocese clergyman Ararat Hovsepyan was declared dismissed for behavior not becoming a clergyman. The applications of Iraq Diocese Armenian leader Archbishop Avag Asaturyan and Iraq National Central Department addressed to the Armenian Catholicos were at the bottom of such a decision. {BR}

The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway has left for the United States.{BR} He plans to meet with Armenian community there and present assistance programs being implemented by his country in Armenia as well as initiatives focused on promotion of small-scale business.

On Monday, Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan left for France at the invitation of France’s Senate President Christian Poncelet. {BR} Series of meetings with French high-ranking officials are planed. Arthur Baghdasaryan is due to meet with his French counterpart Jean Louis Debret as well.

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received a Georgian delegation headed by Georgian Minister of State Zurab Zhvania. Both countries ambassadors were present at the meeting. Intergovernmental relationship development prospects were discussed. Zurab Zhvania said he attaches great importance to the visit paid when Georgia is on presidential election footing. Arthur Baghdasaryan,...

Armenian president Robert Kocharyan met today the vice-president of International Olympic Committee Vitali Smirnov. For the substantial contribution to the international Olympic movement Robert Kocharyan was awarded with the “Honour insignia”.

Robert Kocharyan stressed that Armenian society highly evaluates officials of national security services devoted work. National security services is the important part of security, peaceful and stable development of the country. “The problems National security services faces with are always in the centre of our authorities’ attention and by solving them we are strengthening the state structure of Armenia”,- emphasized Armenian president.

The sitting of PM’ Council of Women Problems took place in Government. 2004-2010’ national program on improvement of women’ state and increase of their role in the society was discussed. The program sets the priorities and principles of the state policy for solution to the problems of women.

Armenian president’s staff head Artashes Tumanyan in Moscow has today met Vladimir Rushaylo, Security Council Secretary of Russia and Boris Alyoshin, Russian Vice-PM and Co-chairman of Armenia-Russia intergovernmental committee. Issues regarding Armenian-Russian bilateral economic collaboration and security in the region were discussed at the meeting.

OSCE conducted monitoring of Armenian-Azeri border on Wednesday. No accidents were reported. Armenian and Azeri units’ commanders had a phone talk on measures necessary to maintain truce.

Q. - On December 15, the National Assembly of Switzerland recognized the Armenian Genocide, joining the list of countries which condemn this crime against humanity. How do you interpret this and what effect might it have on Armenian-Turkish relations? A. – We welcome the decision of the Swiss National Assembly, which has passed a resolution that has been send to the Federal Council, the Government...

The head of Armenian presidential staff Artashes Tumanyan met Wednesday with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow. Regional policy and Armenian-Russian relations were among the issues discussed at the meeting.

President Robert Kocharyan signed the Law on “Criminal and Executive Service”, approved by Parliament. Law regulates the instances and establishments of criminal and executive service, the principles for their activity, classification of posts and ranks, servicemen’ rights, obligations, responsibilities, legal and social guarantees etc.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Baku on Monday to attend funeral of former Azeri President Heydar Aliev. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze is heading to Azerbaijan as well. Also Ajar, Kazakh, Ukrainian and Turkish leaders are going to pay the last respect to their former counterpart.

Today president Robert Kocharyan received Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvidko. Robert Kocharyan considered maintenance and development of cultural relations as one of the most important components for bilateral collaboration, adding that Armenian-Russian relations have recently achieved a new level. They underlined intensification of contacts between the culture figures of Armenia and Russia...

The newly-appointed Ambassador of Canada to Armenia Christopher Westdal presented his credentials to president Robert Kocharyan. President voiced satisfaction over the present level of Armenian-Canadian political relations, adding that Armenia stressed intensification of bilateral collaboration with Canada. The prospects of developing Armenian-Canadian relations and issues regarding economical...

Governor of Georgian province of Akhalkalaki Artyush Hambardzumyan announced his resignation. Reliable sources say he resigned under pressure of forces leaning to the republic’s new authorities. On the Georgian interim president Nino Burdzanadze’s `order`, Arthur Yeremyan will succeed Hambartzumyan as the province’s governor.

In the health sphere According to NKR Minister of Health Zoya Lazarian, significant increase of budget means on the development of the system, which will totally amount to 130 million drams, is expected in 2004. According to her, 458 million drams will be allocated, in particular, for stationary treatment, and the average expenses for treating one patient will comprise 45.000 drams. The budget...