ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Feb 7 2005

Kuwait is an adherent of peaceful settlement of Karabakh Conflict

OSCE mission on determination of facts completes its work in all 7
regions of Nagorno Karabakh

The Armenian delegation headed by RA Minister of Defense Serge
Sargsyan leaves for Iran

RA Prime Minister congratulates Julia Timoshenko with appointment on
the position of Ukrainian Prime Minister

Gagik Barseghyan is relieved of his post of an Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Italy

BRIDGE 2005 International Business Forum to be held in Tsakhkadzor
(Armenia) on February 25-28

RA President goes on shot-term leave

Revaluation of AMD to USD in 2004 made 14.16%

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KUWAIT IS AN ADHERENT OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. Kuwait is an adherent of peaceful
settlement of Karabakh conflict and will protect this position in
international structures, RA NA told ARKA that it was stated by
Kuwait PM Sabah al Ahmad al Sabah during the meeting with RA PM
Arthur Baghdasarian. The parties noted that both countries are
adherents of ideas of regional peace and do not have political or
economic contradictions. It is a good base for development of
bilateral relations and cooperation in international organizations.
Baghdasarian noted that first official Armenian-Kuwait meetings aimed
at development of bilateral cooperation in all spheres. He offered to
sign agreement on interstate cooperation, which was approved by al
Sabah. Besides, al Sabah promised his assistance in creation of
Center of Arabic Culture in Armenia. L.D. –0–

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OSCE MISSION ON DETERMINATION OF FACTS COMPLETES ITS WORK IN ALL 7
REGIONS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT, February 7. /ARKA/. OSCE mission on determination of
facts completes its work in all 7 regions of Nagorno Karabakh. OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairman Yuri Merzlyako (Russia) and Bernard Fasye
(France) and personal representative of OSCE Acting Chairman Andjey
Kaspshik met in Stepanakert with refugees deported from Azerbaijan.
Note monitoring group headed by Director of OSCE MFA German
Department Emili Margaret Haber, included experts from Finland,
Italy, Sweden, Germany and co-chairmen countries – Russia, France,
USA. Preparation of the report for co-chairmen will be completed
within 1-2 weeks.
Today OSCE mission left for Yerevan. L.D. –0–

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THE ARMENIAN DELEGATION HEADED BY RA MINISTER OF DEFENSE SERGE
SARGSYAN LEAVES FOR IRAN

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. The Armenian delegation headed by RA
Minister of Defense, Secretary of the National Security Council Serge
Sargsyan left for Iran by the invitation of the Secretary of Iran’s
National Security Council Hasan Rohani. According to RA Ministry of
Defense Press Secretary, Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, in the
framework of the visit the Armenian delegation wills meet the Iran’s
Foreign Ministry official and special envoy in charge of Caspian
Affairs Mehdi Safari, the Chief of the Iranian Foreign Ministry
Department for CIS issues Morteza Safari, as well as ex-Ambassador of
Iran to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Koleini.
According to the press-release, on February 8, the Armenian
delegation will visit Saadabad complex, where meetings with H.Rohani,
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and the Chairman of the Expediency
Council of Iran Hashemi Rafsanjani are planned. The same day the
delegation will visit the residency of the Armenian eparchy of
Teheran and the Armenian Embassy in Iran. On February 9 the Armenian
delegation will return to Yerevan. A.H. -0–

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RA PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES JULIA TIMOSHENKO WITH APPOINTMENT ON
THE POSITION OF UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
congratulated Julia Timoshenko with appointment on the position of
Ukrainian prime minister, RA Government press office told ARKA. In
his letter Margarian noted the importance of development of
multilateral links between Ukraine and Armenia. “I hope that thanks
to your activity at this high position friendly relations and
mutually beneficial cooperation between our states will successfully
continue for the prosperity of our people”, the letter said. L.D.
–0–

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GAGIK BARSEGHYAN IS RELIEVED OF HIS POST OF AN AMBASSADOR
EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF ARMENIA TO ITALY

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. By the decree of the Republic of Armenia
President Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Barseghyan is relieved of his post
of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to
Italy. According to RA President’s Press Service Department, by
another decree, the President appointed Rouben Shugaryan an
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Italy,
reliving him of his previous post of the RA Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs. A.H.–0–

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BRIDGE 2005 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN TSAKHKADZOR
(ARMENIA) ON FEBRUARY 25-28

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. BRIDGE 2005 International Business Forum
will be held in Tsakhkadzor (Armenia) on February 25-28. According to
Center of International Integration Support «MASTER», in the margins
of the business-forum it is planned to conduct round tables,
dedicated to the following themes: export-import of the commodity,
ecological products, production technologies, and ways of small and
medium business development. Special sessions, section and plenary
sittings and business-meetings will also be held within the framework
of the forum. Representatives of official structures and managers of
companies and organizations of the world will tale part in the
business-forum.
BRIDGE 2005 International Business Forum is organized by the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia and Center of
International Integration Support «MASTER» officially supported by
the Ministry of Trade and Economical Development of Armenia, Ministry
of Foreign Affaires of Armenia and Central Bank of Armenia. L.V.–0–

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RA PRESIDENT GOES ON SHOT-TERM LEAVE

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. The Armenian President Robert Kocharian
went on a short-term leave today. As the Press Service of RA
President told ARKA, Kocharian will spend his vacation in Armenia.
L.V.–0–

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REVALUATION OF AMD TO USD IN 2004 MADE 14.16%

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. Revaluation of AMD to USD in 2004 made
14.16%, and compared to 2003 AMD increased by 7.83% average, CBA
Chairman Tigran Sargsian stated today representing program of
monetary-credit policy of CBA for 2005. As an example that similar
revaluation is not just “Armenia phenomena” he brought the example of
other countries with transition economy, where national currency
revaluated against USD – Bulgaria – by 9.16%, Croation – 9.94%, Czech
Republic – 8.54%, Estonia – 8.9%, Georgia – 9.6%, Slovakia – 12%,
Hungary – 10%. He also noted that EURO rate to USD in 2004 also
increased in value – by 10.25%. At this Sargsian noted that potential
of USD devaluation in Armenia is not exhausted yet. L.D. -0–
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–Boundary_(ID_85Sk9xf2vOuCqKylsuF5Yg)–