ARKA News Agency
March 17-18 2004

RA President releases Aram Tamazian from the position of RA Chief
Prosecutor

Armenia expresses regret that OSCE did not condemn murder of Armenian
officer in Budapest

Acting OSCE Chairman condemns the murder of Armenian officer in
Budapest

RA MFA does not see alternative to peaceful settlement of Karabakh
conflict

RA President Robert Kocharian welcomes the idea `Expanded Europe: New
Neighbors’

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RA PRESIDENT RELEASES ARAM TAMAZIAN FROM THE POSITION OF RA CHIEF
PROSECUTOR

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian released
Aram Tamazian from the position of RA Chief Prosecutor, President’s
press service told ARKA.
The other president’s decree appointed on this position Aghvan
Ovsepian. L.D. –0–

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ARMENIA EXPRESSES REGRET THAT OSCE DID NOT CONDEMN MURDER OF ARMENIAN
OFFICER IN BUDAPEST

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. Armenia expresses regret that OSCE did not
condemn murder of Armenian officer in Budapest, RA Government PR
Department told ARKA. It was stated by RA Prime Minister of Armenia
Andranik Margarian during the meeting with Acting OSCE Chairman
Solomon Passi.
On February 19, at 5:30 a.m. Gourgen Margaryan, the Lieutenant of
Armenian Armed Forces, who was in Budapest on business, namely for
learning English in the framework of `Partnership for Peace’ program,
was cruelly massacred when sleeping with an axe by an Azerbaijani
officer, who was there on the same program.
According to Hungarian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Armenia Ferenz Contra told ARKA earlier that the murderer of
Armenian officer Ramil Safarov will not be surrendered to Azerbaijan.
Safarov committed crime on Hungarian land and will be kept in
Hungarian prison. L.D. –0–

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ACTING OSCE CHAIRMAN CONDEMNS THE MURDER OF ARMENIAN OFFICER IN
BUDAPEST

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. Acting Osce Chairman Solomon Passi
condemns the murder of Armenian officer in Budapest, he stated this
at the briefing in Yerevan. He also added that `didn’t heard in
Azerbaijan voices in support of the murderer’.
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian expressed pity that Regular OSCE
Council did not condemn brutal murder of Armenian officer.
On February 19, at 5:30 a.m. Gourgen Margaryan, the Lieutenant of
Armenian Armed Forces, who was in Budapest on business, namely for
learning English in the framework of `Partnership for Peace’ program,
was cruelly massacred when sleeping with an axe by an Azerbaijani
officer, who was there on the same program. L.D. -0–

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RA MFA DOES NOT SEE ALTERNATIVE TO PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH
CONFLICT

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian does
not see alternative to peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, he
stated this at the meeting with acting OSCE Chairman, Foreign
Minister of Bulgaria Solomon Passi, RA MFA told ARKA. Foreign
Ministers expressed solidarity in this issue and noted that time
works not in the favor of any parties.
During the meeting Oskanian represented Armenian actions on
attraction of countries of the region in the program `Expanded
Europe: New Neighbors’. He said that European context will be useful
for softening the atmosphere around regional conflicts and their
settlement. Passi in his turn agreed with given position and
expressed readiness to provide assistance in given issues.
The parties also discussed programs of OSCE Yerevan Office on
strengthening of democratic institutes, human right protection, fight
against corruption.
Acting OSCE Chairman, Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Solomon Passi
arrived in Armenia on March 16 in the frames of regional visit. L.D.
–0–

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RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN WELCOMES THE IDEA `EXPANDED EUROPE: NEW
NEIGHBORS’

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian welcomes the
idea `Expanded Europe: New Neighbors’, President’s Press Office told
ARKA. Kocharian stated this during the meeting with EU delegation
headed with Co-Chairman of Interparliametary Cooperation EU-Armenia
Ursula Shleicher. Kocharian once again stressed the readiness of
Armenia in expanding and deepening of relations with EU. According to
him, Armenian cooperation with EU, particularly in the sphere of
economy is especially businesslike. `Expanded Europe: New Neighbors’
will become new stimuli for bringing all reforms in the country and
Armenian legislation in correspondence to international standards’,
Kocharian said. The President also represented his position
considering Karabakh conflict settlement and situation in South
Caucasus. Talking about economic priorities of Armenia, Kocharian
said that the Government set up a goal of provision of sustainable
economic development at the whole territory of the republic. L.D.
–0–