ARKA News Agency
Oct 20 2004

RA Foreign Minister and Secretary General of Venice Trade Chamber
discuss activation of economic relations

`Information Day’ dedicated to Tempus European Commission educational
program is held Yerevan State University

Process of Armenia’s honoring the commitments and obligations to the
Council of Europe is discussed at the working meeting at RA President

NKR President receives delegation of Armenian Assembly of America

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RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND SECRETARY GENERAL OF VENICE TRADE CHAMBER
DISCUSS ACTIVATION OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and
Secretary General of Venice Trade Chamber Romano Tiozzo discussed
activation of economic relations, RA MFA told ARKA. During the
meeting the parties noted traditionally strong links between Armenia
and Venice and paid attention of cooperation in the field of small
and medium business, which priority directions are wine-growing,
production of agroproducts, tourism, light industry, etc. L.D. –0–

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`INFORMATION DAY’ DEDICATED TO TEMPUS EUROPEAN COMMISSION EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM IS HELD YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. Information Day of Tempus Educational
Program of the European Commission seminar was held today in Yerevan
State University. According to Lana Karlova, the Head of National
Bureau of Tempus in Armenia, the objective of the seminar is to
identify the perspectives of integration of higher educational system
of Armenia in single educational space of EU, inform about the latest
developments and innovations of Tempus program, discuss the
perspectives of cooperation of Armenian universities with EU
countries and possibilities of cooperation on grant types and process
of application selection.
According to Alexis Leber, Head of Yerevan Office of the Delegation
of European Commission in Georgia and Armenia, `perspectives of
Armenia’s integration in the system of single European space are real
and feasible’, taking into account the fact that Armenia is currently
on the stage of education system reforms.
The event is organized by Armenian Science and Education Ministry,
Yerevan Office of European Commission Delegation in Georgia and
Armenia, Director of Education and Culture in European Commission
jointly with Tempus program National Office.
Tempus program founded in 1990 is one of the most authoritative
programs of the European Commission. Its objective is to assist the
system of higher education in a number of third countries (partner
countries) based on balanced cooperation. The program possesses three
main tools – joint European projects, structural and additional
arrangements, grants for individual trips. Armenia has been
participating in Tempus program since 1995. L.V. -0–

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PROCESS OF ARMENIA’S HONORING THE COMMITMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO THE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE IS DISCUSSED AT THE WORKING MEETING AT RA PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. The process of Armenia’s honoring the
commitments and obligations to the Council of Europe was discussed at
the working meeting at RA President Robert Kocharian. According to
the Press Service Department of RA President, Kocharian noted the
need for specification of Armenia’s achievements towards honoring the
commitments and adoption of a new schedule for `complete
fulfillment’. According to the President, an important commitment
remains the package of constitutional reforms, connected with holding
a referendum. In his turn, Tigran Torosyan, the Vice-Speaker of RA NA
presented the process and schedule of honoring the commitments
towards reforming of various laws. In particular, it is mentioned
that the Venice Commission had already expressed its opinion
regarding the Family Code and further improvement work would be
carried out based on the recommendations. The sides also touched upon
legislative packages on judiciary-legislative system, bodies of
self-government and regional administration. . The President gave
certain instructions regarding the implementation schedule. -0–

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NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan received
the delegation of Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) headed by Deputy
Chairman of Board of Directors of Mrs. AAA Anni Totah. The delegation
includes the Regional Manager of Offices of the AAA in Armenia and
Nagorno KArabakh Arpi Vardanyan.
These traditional visits of the AAA delegation to NKR aim at getting
acquainted wit programs, implemented here with direct support of the
organization as well as definition of the perspectives for the
further assistance in solution of economic, educational and other
issues that the Republic’s leadership faces. At the meeting with the
President the members of the delegation shared their views on this
visit during which they were not only in Stepanakert, but also some
villages of the Republic. According to the guests today one can see a
considerable progress in the Republic’s life, also the efforts of the
leadership of the Republic for solution of consequences of the war
and rehabilitation of destroyed economic complex and NKR
infrastructure is visible.
At the same time the members of the delegation mentioned that if
consequences of the war are not so much visible in Stepanakert, there
are a number of unsolved problems in the Republic.
The delegation members also touched upon the issues of restoration of
town of Shushi. In this regard Ghukasyan said that the Republic’s
leadership undertakes definite steps in this regard. The projects are
being prepared for turning of the town into All-Armenian educational,
cultural and health center. He said that NKR is not able to solve
this issue alone, it need Diaspora’s assistance.
In conclusion Ghukasyan thanked the AAA for lobbying activity in the
US, due to which the US Government provides annual humanitarian aid
to Nagorno Karabakh. In his words, this is the only country that
provides assistance to NKR officially. He said that the programs
funded by the assistance have positive impact on the Republic’s life.

NKR President called on the AAA Representatives to establish a
mutually profitable cooperation in the sphere of business,
considerable potential of which is accrued in Karabakh for the recent
years. T.M. -0–