On January 28 president Robert Kocharyan will leave for Kiev to take part in the non-official summit of leaders of CIS-countries . The execution process of decisions, made at the former sessions of Council of presidents of CIS- countries, the perspective of development of mutual co-operation within CIS will be discussed at the summit. Joint meeting of presidents of Russia, Armenia, Georgia and...

There is atmosphere of fear and horror in the country since pre-election propaganda began. The “authors” of it are the criminal elements and representatives of some force structures, functioning under guidance of Robert Kocharyan. They even threaten the employees of headquarters for candidates from Opposition with dismiss and ceasing the headquarters. Propaganda in favour of Robert Kocharyan exceeded all the legal bounds, airtime is used...

On January 24, NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Ghoulian received leader of Stepanakert office of International Committee of the Red Cross Christopher Mehley in connection with his authorities’ termination in Nagorno Karabakh. Christopher Mehley introduced the office’s new leader Charlotte Hartford to the head of the NKR Foreign Office. During the meeting Mr. Mehley thanked the leadership of the Ministry...

US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway met with top ARF representatives January 24 at the Simon Vratsian Center to discuss the issues of ensuring free and fair presidential election due in February. The ARF was represented by ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian, ARF Armenia Supreme Body (SB) representative Armen Rustamian, SB member Gegham Manukian and ARF Bureau Political and Hay Dat Office...

According to the data of the NKR National Statistic Service, in 2002 the number of the arrived in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic totaled 1186 people, and the number of the departed from the Republic – 511 people. The mechanical growth amounted to 675 people. 33,6 - in the rural populated areas. The percent of the departed from the urban populated areas of the Republic amounts to 44,8. 80,2% of...

Today, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received newly appointed United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to Armenia Mr. Al-Marar. It was emphasised that economic and cultural relations between the two countries reached a new level especially after Kocharyan’s visit to the UAE. Possible development of the situation over Iraq was also discussed at the meeting.

On January 22 Armenian Parliament speaker Armen Khachatryan received the members of OSCE Observers’ Mission, headed by Peter Iker. Mr Khachatryan expressed hope that they will make their contribution to democracy development in Armenia. It was stated that the coming elections will increase reputation of Armenia as a country which takes resolute steps on its way of democracy and is interested in...

Under decision of Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan, Naira Melkumyan was appointed the counsellor of Prime Minister .

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received Tuesday the head of the OSCE Election Observation Mission Peter Eicher. Objectives of observation mission in upcoming presidential elections as well as other election-related issues were discussed at the meeting.

On January 20, a briefing of the head of the General Information Department under the NKR President, Alexander Grigorian, took place in Stepanakert. He made the following statement: The state of health of the Azerbaijani Army’s soldier Elmeddin Abiyev , taken prisoner on January 8, 2003 on the contact-line of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces during the attempt of the diversionary-reconnaissance...

Session of Parliamentary Assembly Bureau of European Council took place in Paris on January 13-15. Hovhanness Hovhannissyan, Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of Armenian Parliament and head of Armenian delegation in Parliamentary Assembly of European Council took part in it. According to him, the agenda of the PAEC session that will take place in Strasbourg from January 27-31 and some issues,...

On January 16, a special plenary session of the NKR National Assembly took place. The deputies approved the bills “On Ratification of the State Special Programs of Public Health for 2003”, “On Ratification of the State Development Program of Small and Middle Business in 2003”, “On Introducing Amendments into the NKR Law “On Compulsory Social Security Cost “. The Parliamentarians also ratified the main financial document - draft...

By decision of Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan, a Council for supporting prevention of illegal felling in the Republic of Armenia was set up . The staff of it was approved. Ecology Minister is to head the Council. The first Deputy Ecology Minister, Deputy Minister for Co-ordinating Activity of Infrastructures and Territorial Management, representatives of Ministries of Justice, Finance and Economy,...

Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin the Second received Israeli Deputy Director General of The Division for central Europe and Eurasia David Peleg, Deputy Foreighn Minister of Armenia Ruben Shugaryanas well as Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Cohen. It was spoken over the world and Holy Land peace problems at the meeting. Armenian Catholicos highly estimated the efforts of both...

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Armen Khachatryan received Thursday Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Cohen and Israeli Deputy Director General of the Division for Central Europe and Eurasia David Peleg. David Hovhannissyan, the head of Armenia-Israel parliamentary group, was present at the meeting. Welcoming the guests, Armen Khachatryan attached a great importance to farther development of...

On January 16 president Robert Kocharyan will arrive for a 3 days’ official visit in Russia. Armenian Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Economic Development, Power Engineering, Culture, Youth and Sport, Central Bank Chairman, MPs, Armenian Ambassador to Russia, other officials are the delegation headed by him. In the framework of the official visit Kocharyan will meet Russia’s...

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan convened a meeting to discuss water-supply-related issues. It was spoken at the meeting about measures that are to be taken after the contract between “Jrmugh-Koyughi” and “A-Utility” companies comes to escrow. PM expressed his satisfaction at the progress achieved thanks to both the “A-Utility” and the republic’s government efforts. It is noted that much work is still to be done in this...

Armenian Apostolic Church leader Garegin the Second Tuesday passed on the medal of Saint Ignatios Theoforas awarded by the Patriarch of Assirian Orthodox Church Mar Ignatios Zakka Ivas I to Armenian national Assemblny Speaker Armen Khachatryan.

Grounding on the Law on Civil Services, President Robert Kocharyan issued an order to dismiss Aharon Mkrtchyan as member of Civil Services Council. The same day, Kocharyan signed an order appointing Ara Nazaryan to the vacant position in the Council for 6-year term. Before taking up his new post Nazaryan has been working in the staff of the Council.

On January 14 president Robert Kocharyan will arrive for a 2-days’ visit to Germany. Armenia’s president is visiting Germany for the first time during more than a 10 year’ history of Armenian-German interstate relations. Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Economic Development, Finance, CB Chairman, MP Hranush Hakobyan, Armenian Ambassador to Germany Karine Ghazinyan, other officials...

Today a session of Council for Public TV and Radio Company held. Alexan Harutyunyan was unanimously elected the Council Head.

On January 7 president Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on calling a halt to commissions of Ashot Manukyan , member of Council for Public TV and Radio Company, before the appointed time. The same day president issued an edict over nominating both Alexan Harutyunyan and Vartan Kopyan the members of Council of Public TV and Radio Company. Under another decree of January 7 by Kocharyan, Alexan Harutyunyan...

At the morning session of the special session on December 25 Armenian Parliament passed the bill on the new Criminal Law Code by the second reading. Under it capital punishment is abolished and imprisonment for life is set as the utmost punishment . Parliament began discussing the bill on “Putting Armenian Criminal Law Code in Force”. It says in particular that the clauses over death penalty abolition won’t apply to the persons who have...

Today president Robert Kocharyan met the members of the Bureau for Renewed Communists’ Party of Armenia. Kocharyan said he expects to hear the appraisal of party members over the processes and developments in the country. Stating the year to have been rather successful as the matter of economy, and differ from the previous ones, Kocharyan said: “The tasks we had set ourselves, were mainly fulfilled” . According to the words of the country...