ARKA News Agency
April 2 2004

Expanding of economic links is a priority of development of
Armenia-Lebanese cooperation

Armenian dance and poetry party takes place in London

On April 3, RA Prime Minister to leave for Tavush region of Armenia
with two-day visit

1 April

RA President receives the head of USAID Yerevan Office

Compromise between Armenian authorities and opposition must be free,
RA NA Vice Speaker

Azerbaijani Minister’s statement not true

NKR President signs decree on establishing of interdepartmental
commission

The Leader of ULB faction suggests that the statement of the
opposition regarding Government shift be accepted with humor

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EXPANDING OF ECONOMIC LINKS IS A PRIORITY OF DEVELOPMENT OF
ARMENIA-LEBANESE COOPERATION

YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. Expanding of economic links is a priority
of development of Armenia-Lebanese cooperation. It was stated during
the meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian and Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Khariri. The parties noted high level of
Armenian-Lebanese relations and stressed the importance of activation
of links between business circles of the countries. The parties noted
important role of Armenian community of Lebanon in development of
bilateral relations. The parties also exchanged views on problems and
developments in Middle East and South Caucasus regions. L.D. –0–

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ARMENIAN DANCE AND POETRY PARTY TAKES PLACE IN LONDON

YEREVAN, April 2./ARKA/. Armenian dance and poetry party took place
in London, RA MFA told ARKA. The party took place in Dartmouth House,
The English-Speaking Union. British Dancer of Armenian origin Shake
Avanesian danced Armenian dances and actor Peter Barker represented
English translations of Armenian lyrics. L.D. -0 –

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ON APRIL 3, RA PRIME MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR TAVUSH REGION OF ARMENIA
WITH TWO-DAY VISIT

YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. On April 3, RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian will leave for Tavush region of Armenia with two-day visit.
The Premier will get familiar with the work of irrigation system in
Parakavar system. He will take part in the opening of gravity
irrigation system in Airum village. The visit also includes meetings
with the citizens of the region, bodies of territorial and local
self-government. On April 4, Margarian will take part in opening of
chess school in Dilijan. L.D. –0–

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RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES THE HEAD OF USAID YEREVAN OFFICE

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received the
Head of USAID Yerevan Office Keith Simmons, who finished his mission
in Armenia. RA President’s press office told ARKA that the President
handed Simmons a medal of Movses Khorenatsi for personal contribution
in socio-economic development Armenia. Kocharian thanked Simmons for
productive cooperation.
Simmons in his turn said that USAID programs have been developed and
realized along with reforms of RA Government and joint work was very
effective.
Simmons represented the President new Head of USAID Yerevan Office
Robin Phillips. L.D. –0–

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COMPROMISE BETWEEN ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION MUST BE FREE,
RA NA VICE SPEAKER

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. Compromise between Armenian authorities and
opposition must be free, RA NA Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian stated
today. `No bridge can built between authorities and opposition if
opposition states that they are ready to political dialogue only
after resignation of the president’, he said. He stressed that
discussions with opposition can be possible only if opposition
expresses versatility. `If opposition does not want it, then all
responsibility for breaking of stability in the country will lay on
it’, he stated. L.D. –0–

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AZERBAIJANI MINISTER’S STATEMENT NOT TRUE

STEPANAKERT, April 1. /ARKA/. Namik Abbasov’s, Azerbaijan’s National
Security Minister statement, that Nagorno Karbakh produces drugs are
not true, as NKR Police Press Service told ARKA. As stated by the
Press Service, Azerbaijan follows a policy of discrediting of NKR
during the recent years and new `facts’ reported by the Azerbaijani
Minister are the continuation of this policy. As also said by the
Pres Service, NKR leadership was repeatedly applying to the relevant
international structures with the request to delegate an independent
group of experts to check so called `facts’ reported by the
Azerbaijani side.
Also a number of international organizations offices are accredited
in Nagorno Karabakh and their representatives have a free access to
all regions of NKR as well as to adjacent areas. `However,
Azerbaijan’s accusations never were confirmed by them’, as the
statement mentions. T.M. -0–

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NKR PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON ESTABLISHING OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL
COMMISSION

STEPANAKERT, April 1. /ARKA/. Today NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan
signed a decree on establishing of Interdepartmental Commission on
Information Security and Television Broadcasting of NKR Security
Council, as stated by the NKR President Press-Service told ARKA.
Georgi Petrosyan, Member of the Security Council, Advisor to the NKR
President was appointed as the Commission Chairman. T.M. -0-

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THE LEADER OF ULB FACTION SUGGESTS THAT THE STATEMENT OF THE
OPPOSITION REGARDING GOVERNMENT SHIFT BE ACCEPTED WITH HUMOR

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. Gourgen Arsenya, the Leader of the United
Labor Party (ULB) faction, suggests that the statement of the
opposition regarding Government shift be accepted with humor. As he
stated in the Parliament, the reality to be accepted with humor,
since the political tension is just illusion. He is sure that the
reality is `a political process and not rebellion’. The Leader
estimated the present situation as a `brigandage’. `Everybody wants
something, but in fact they all want to gain power’, said Arsenyan.
He stated that the Government worries about the situation, since it
doesn’t want the activities of the opposition to bring to social
disorders. According to the leader, the power keeps the situation
under control.
The opposition in the person of the National Unity Party and Justice
Bloc stated of their intention to achieve the shift of Government at
the head of Robert Kocharian, the RA President. The opposition will
declare the day of the civic protest action till April 13. A.H. -0–