Today is the 16th anniversary of the Armenian Army. On this occasion RA President Robert Kocharian today visited the Yerablur Pantheon to pay homage to the memory of the soldiers of the liberation war in Artsakh.

On January 28, 1992, Armenia’s President Levon Ter-Petrossian signed a decree on the formation of the Armenian Army. The armed forces of the Defense Ministry had fought full-scale wars for the sake of the country by then.

“The liberated territories of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic cannot be surrendered. The question is beyond doubt,” presidential candidate Arman Melikian said on January 28.

Since the official onset of the pre-election campaign proponents of Levon Ter-Petrossian, Arthur Baghdasarian and Serzh Sarkissian have looked in residents Shengavit Commune to specify the number of family members.

Marietta Petrossian, member of the “National Unification” Party (AMK) and head of the Nairi Office of the AMK, left the party today. She told A1+ about her decision today. Marietta Petrossian has been affiliated with the AMK since 2002.

On January 25 presidential candidate Serzh Sarkissian visited St. Sargis Church before the scheduled meeting with residents of Nor-Nork Commune. He was escorted by the leader of Araratian diocese Navasard Ktchoyan.

"I am glad to hear that Levon Ter-Petrossian thinks he has already won the presidential election and wants to square accounts with people who have ex officio participated in the election processes, including me. It seems to me my voice trembled, didn’t it?," head of the RA Passport-Visa Department and Colonel Alvina Zakarian said today.

It turns out that neither presidential candidate Tigran Karapetian nor his People’s Party (ZhK) have ever distributed bribes.

“I do not rule out that Armenian mass media might formally provide equal footing for the nine candidates during the pre-election campaign. And yet it doesn’t mean that the whole campaign will be devoid of irregularities,” candidate of legal science Hrayr Tovmassian said in reply to A1+.

Italy’s Prime Minister Romano Prodi handed in his resignation to President Georgio Napolitano.

Unknown people broke the windows of the Vanadzor Office of the Orinats Yerkir Party on the night of January 24. They also tore down the notices posted on the walls.

Today the RA First President Levon Ter-Petrosyan began his pre-election campaign in Charentsavan and ended in Meghradzor.

Residents of Kapan gathered in the central square of the town to meet the RA presidential candidate, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan. About 5000 people were participating in the meeting.

“The freedom of press, as the freedom of speech and expression are in the basis of a democratic society. Defending press we defend democracy, our right for truth.

“It is high time radical changes, as well as system changes, took place in Armenia, thus, the opposition should represent itself with a united front right in the first stage”, said press speaker of the “Heritage” party Hovsep Khurshudyan at the “Hayeli” (Mirror) club today.

Before the presidential elections Head of the Yerevan Kentron Community Gagik Beglaryan and the NA Deputy Ruben Sadoyan met the staff of the 4-th policlinics of the Yerevan Municipality and informed that they represented the “Republican Party of Armenia” and during the upcoming presidential elections they would support the RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan’s candidature.

“Whoever becomes the next RA president, no abrupt changes in Armenian-Turkish relations will take place. In all cases, the Armenian-Turkish relations will improve”, said the Chairman of the “National Democratic Union” party Vazgen Manukyan to “A1+”.

After getting acquainted with the programs of the RA presidential candidates, Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan had the impression that they did not form the most powerful part of the current pre-election fight.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan has just finished the meeting with the residents of Charentsavan. The RA First President, presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan has just left for the Kotayk region within the frameworks of campaign.

Today Armenia's former President had meetings with voters of Tavush Marz. Residents of Verin Tsakhkahovit Village slaughtered a lamb for Ter-Petrossian's victory.

Presidential candidate and leader of the “Orinats Yerkir” Party (OYP) Arthur Baghdasarian stated today that a considerable growth of prices will take place in Armenia after the presidential elections of February 19 “in case the present situation in the country is preserved and the authorities keep on reproducing.”

Presidential candidate and leader of the “National Unity” Party (AMK) Artashes Geghamian upheld the old tradition of starting pre-election campaign from Lori Marz. He was the first candidate to step Alaverdi on January 23.

“According to my verified sources /some ruling circles/ the authorities no longer rely on Yerevan voters. Yesterday’s large-scale rally at Liberty (Azatutiun) Square testifies to my words. Rural voters are their last anchor of hope.

"It's Your Choice" NGO will deploy short-term observers in 1923 polling stations during the presidential elections of February 19. The NGO has started a long-term observation mission since January 21,” Chairman of the organization Harutiun Hambardzumian informed A1+.