ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 12 2005

`The Supreme Council’ deputy club of RA NA to hold jubilee
celebrations from March to September 2005 devoted to the 15th
anniversary of RA NA

NKR President signs decree on implementation of changes in the
structure of the Government

In 2004, emphasis put on the development of economic and transport
constituents in the relations between Armenia and Russia

NKR President signed the law providing forced execution of legal acts

No shifts registered in Armenia-Turkey relations in 2004-Vardan
Oskanian

President of Armenia Robert Kocharian sends a congratulatory message
to Mahmoud Abbas, newly elected President of the Palestinian
Authority

Armenian President holds working meeting with Armenian Labor and
Social Affairs Minister

Armenian Government undergo staff changes

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`THE SUPREME COUNCIL’ DEPUTY CLUB OF RA NA TO HOLD JUBILEE
CELEBRATIONS FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER 2005 DEVOTED TO THE 15TH
ANNIVERSARY OF RA NA

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. `The Supreme Council’ deputy club of RA
NA will hold jubilee celebrations from March to September 2005
devoted to the 15th anniversary of RA NA. As ARKA was told in the
club, `the last 15 years were the period of hardship, however, the
supreme legislative body of the country still has its special role in
the political life of Armenia’.
The first session of RA NA took place on July 20, 1990. A.H. -0–

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NKR PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES IN THE
STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT

STEPANAKERT, January 12. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkady Gukasian signed
decree on implementation of changes in the structure of the
Government, NKR President’s press office told ARKA. According to the
decree, the Ministry of Urban Development and Development of
Production Infrastructures has been reorganized to the Ministry of
Territorial Management and Infrastructure Development and the
Ministry of Urban Development. With the other decree Boris Alaverdian
released from position of the Minister of Urban Development and
Development of Production Infrastructures was appointed on the
position of NKR Minister of Urban Development and Armo Tsaturian
appointed on the position of NKR Minister of Territorial Management
and Infrastructure Development.
Gukasian also signed a decree according to which Garik Grigorian was
appointed NKR President’s assistant. L.D. –0–

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IN 2004, EMPHASIS PUT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC AND TRANSPORT
CONSTITUENTS IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. In 2004, the emphasis was put on the
development of economic and transport constituents in the relations
between Armenia and Russia, as stated RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian during the press-conference summing up the results of
2004. According to him, many economic problems were solved in 2004.
In particular, an agreement was achieved on participation of Armenia
in construction of the North-South international transport corridor,
which is of strategic importance to Armenia from the standpoint of
having an alternative way for transport communication with the world
through the territory of Iran. Besides, Oskanian noted that the ferry
for cargo transportation between Poti and Caucasus will be of high
importance for the trade turnover between the countries. Due to the
ferry communication, the expenses on transportation of Armenia-Russia
cargo will reduce. Among the actual issues of the agenda on economic
cooperation between Armenia and Russia Oskanian noted the necessity
of restoring full work of the enterprises given to Russian by Armenia
to redeem the state debt of RA to RF, increasing the volume of cargo
transportation between the countries, high participation of the
Russian capital in the Armenian economy, and full use of the
energetic potential of Armenia.
The Minister noted that in 2004 the relations with Russia developed
in military-political, trade-economic and humanitarian sectors. In
particular, in 2004, an Armenian-Russian Association for Business
Cooperation was established, uniting about 100 companies from the two
countries. Besides, currently about 50 subjects of RF actively
participate with the regions of Armenia in the area of economy.
Oskanian also noted that in the framework of cooperation between RA
and RF Ministries of Culture for 2003-2005, the days of RF culture
were held in Armenia in April 2004, and in March 2004 a week of the
Armenian film was held in Moscow. According to Oskanian, an agreement
was reached to announce the year of 2005 as a year of Russia in
Armenia, and the year of 2006 – that of Armenia in Russia. A.H. –0–

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NKR PRESIDENT SIGNED THE LAW PROVIDING FORCED EXECUTION OF LEGAL ACTS

STEPANAKERT, January 12. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkady Gukasian signed
the law providing forced execution of legal acts. The President also
signed the law on water users communities and on implementation of
changes and novels to the law on order of publication and entry in
force of laws and other normative acts, NKR President’s press office
told ARKA. L.D. –0–
The laws were passed in NKR NA on Dec 8, 2004. L.D. –0–

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NO SHIFTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS IN 2004-VARDAN
OSKANIAN

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. No shifts registered in Armenia-Turkey
relations in 2004, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated at the
press conference in result of 2004. According to him, Turkey
continues connection of opening of Armenian-Turkish border and
settlement of relations with several pre-conditions, while Armenia is
for establishment of relations without pre-conditions. He also
reminded that in 2004 foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey met in
Istanbul and New-York, and discussed bilateral relations during the
meeting. The parties also exchange views on regional and
international developments. At the same time the Minister stressed
that in 2004 bilateral relations continued demonstration of activity
from non-government structures. Besides trilateral meeting of foreign
ministers of Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan took place in the frames
of Istanbul NATO summit. L.D. –0–

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PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA ROBERT KOCHARIAN SENDS A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
TO MAHMOUD ABBAS, NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY
YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian sent a
congratulatory message to Mahmoud Abbas, newly elected President of
the Palestinian Authority. As the Press Service of RA President told
ARKA agency, Kocharian wished the newly elected President good health
and productive work and expressed confidence that the received vote
of confidence would serve for the Palestinian President as the
strongest guarantee for establishment of peace and stability in the
region. L.V. -0–

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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HOLDS WORKING MEETING WITH ARMENIAN LABOR AND
SOCIAL AFFAIRS MINISTER

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian had
working meeting with Armenian Labor and Social Affairs Minister
Aghvan Vardanyan. As Armenian President Press Service told ARKA,
during the meeting Vardanyan presented to the Head of the Armenian
State the results of the Ministry’s activity for 2004 as well as he
outlined plans for the year 2005. During the meeting the officials
particularly discussed the issues related to reforming of the pension
system T.M. -0–

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ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT UNDERGO STAFF CHANGES

YEREVAN, January 12. /ARKA/. The Armenian Government underwent staff
changes. As Armenian Government Press and Public Relations Department
told ARKA, by decree of Armenian PM Andranik Margarian, Deputy
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Meruzhan Mikayelyan, Deputy
Armenian Justice Minister Anahit Avagyan, Deputy Armenian Minister of
Labor and Social Affairs Karine Hakobyan were released from the
positions held. T.M. -0–