Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expects a seminar beginning next Monday at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg to provide added impetus and alternative ideas in the area of conflict resolution. On the Secretary General's initiative, some thirty young people from conflict zones in and around Europe will meet up between 31 March and 2 April to discuss how...

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received Thursday newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Armenia Mr. Nomura. Prospects of relationship between Armenia and Japan were discussed at the meeting.

Armenian Communist Party staged today a demonstration before the U.S. Embassy protesting aggression against Iraq. The protesters carrying red flags, anti-war and anti-American signs demanded to stop aggression and expressed their support of Iraqi people.

The ordinary session of the Committee, Co-ordinating Works for Anti-corruption Programs, held today at PM Andranik Margaryan. Separate clauses of the program on anti-corruption strategy were discussed, some considerations and suggestions by Committee members over the project were heard. Prime Minister set Committee members and concerned Ministries tasks to continue further works on the project.

On March 25, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line, north of the NKR Martakert region. From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring was headed by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzey Kasprzyk. The group comprised Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office...

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received Tuesday UNDT Resident Representative and Coordinator Joel Boutroue, whose mission in Armenia is already completed. President Kocharyan expressed gratitude to Mr. Boutroue for his work in Armenia saying it was fruitful despite being short-term.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received today the UN (UNHCR, UNICEF), ICRS, IOM and IFRC representatives. Delegation from the State Department on Refugees and Migration was present at the meeting as well. The issues related to Iraqi refugees and the measures to be taken by international organisations in this situation were discussed at the meeting. Vardn Oskanyan informed the meeting...

Being guided by the 70th article of Constitution and on the initiative of Government, on March 24 president Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on holding a special session of Parliament on March 25, at 12:00 PM. About 26 issues are entered on the sitting agenda.

Question: What is Armenia’s response to the latest statement made by the State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher calling the countries in which the Iraqis have a diplomatic presence to suspend Iraq's diplomatic presence in the country? Answer: Armenia determines the nature of diplomatic relations with other countries, their establishment and suspension on its own on the basis of its needs and...

Turkey president Ahmed Nesdett Sezer sent a congratulation message to Robert Kocharyan on his re-election for the president’ s post. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Jorge Batlle, Uruguay Eastern Republic president , Lithuania president Rolandas Paskas, Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov, Qatar president Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani as well sent a congratulation message to him.

Today Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan received Byelorussia Ambassador to Armenia Maria Dolgopolova. Congratulating her on assuming the diplomatic legation in Armenia, Margaryan voiced hope Armenian-Byelorussian friendly relations will henceforth progress. The great potentiality of trade and economic relations between 2 countries was confirmed at the conversation. At the end of the meeting Margaryan...

On March 19 Speaker of Armenian Parliament Armen Khachatryan hosted Georgia Ambassador to Armenia Nikoloz Nikolozishvili. Issues regarding development of inter-Parliamentary terms of both countries and intensification of political and economic relations were discussed at the meeting. It was stated both states have great potentialities to develop trade and economic relations that include implementation...

Armenian philanthropist Gevorg Hovnanyan from Diaspora sent a congratulation message to Robert Kocharyan on his re-election for the post of the president. Bulgaria president Georgi Parvanov as well congratulated Robert Kocharyan.

On March 19 morning in Central Electoral Committee CEC Chairman Artak Sahradyan officially presented the warrant of the president of Armenian Republic to Robert Kocharyan.

Secretary General of Socialist International Louis Ayalan arrived today in Armenia. Dashnaktsutyun party’s activists received him in airport. Ayala is set to meet President, Speaker of the Parliament, Foreign Minister and Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary fraction members. Louis Ayala will visit Yerevan’s Genocide Memorial and deliver lecture on modern socialism problems at the Yerevan State University.

Cuban Ambassador to Armenia Jorje Martinez presented Tuesday credentials to President Kocharyan. Speaking on Armenian-Cuban relations, both president and ambassador stressed necessity of strengthening ties between two countries through significant steps.

Romania’s leader Ion Iliesku has congratulated Robert Kocharyan on his re-election. Prominent philanthropist Kerk Kerkoryan has congratulated re-elected president as well.

Greece’ president Konstantinos Stefanopulos sent a congratulation message to Robert Kocharyan on his re-election for the president’ post.

President Robert Kocharyan held a working deliberation. The resolutions by organisations, having carried out international observation mission for the second round of the presidential elections were the topic for discussion. Under the decree of the president, a work group was set up to study the irregularities, fixed in the protocols. Representatives of Justice Ministry and the president’s staff...

On March 17 speaker of Armenian Parliament Armen Khachatryan received the delegation, headed by Giadiminas Kirkilas, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of Lithuania Seim. Parliament speaker stressed importance of friendly relations between Armenia and Lithuania, saying Lithuania may have significant part in integration of Armenia into European structures. Issues regarding collaboration in economy,...

Today rumours spread saying Serj Sargssyan left for USA because his health became worse. We were informed from Defence Ministry that Minister is in Armenia and he has been seen today.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi postponed visit to Armenia scheduled for March 17 as part of his regional tour because of precipitous deterioration of the situation over Iraq.

On March 13 president Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on nominating Vahe Gabrielyan Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Great Britain and United Kingdom of Northern Ireland /residence London/. Under another decree, Armenian Ambassador to Greece Vahram Kajoyan was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Serbia and Montenegro Republic by holding more than one office /residence Athens/.

Estonia president Arnold Ruutel sent a congratulation message to Robert Kocharyan on his re-election for the president’s post. The message particularly says: “Please, accept my congratulation on Your re-election for the high post. I wish You every success for the responsible task in governing the people and the country. Taking an opportunity, I wish You and people of Armenia happiness and health” .