ARKA News Agency – 04/19/2004

ARKA News Agency
April 19 2004

Vardan Oskanian and Steven Mann discuss perspectives of promoting
talks on Nagorno Karabakh

V. Oskanyan: Demands of Armenian opposition incorrect and not in
accordance to Constitution

RA President receives famous Canadian Armenian singer Isabel
Bairakdarian

RA Minister of Defense receives American Co-Chairman of OSCE MG

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VARDAN OSKANIAN AND STEVEN MANN DISCUSS PERSPECTIVES OF PROMOTING
TALKS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and
newly appointed US Co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann
discussed the perspectives of promoting th negotiating process on
Nagorno Karbakh problem settlement. As stated by Oskanian on his
briefing the “meeting was fruitful”, mentioning that the sides
exchanged their opinions in relation to their positions and
approaches to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He
also said that during the familiarization visit the Co-Chairman did
not plan any concrete proposals. “We plan to draw existing common
grounds in the settlement of the conflict on basis of which it might
be possible to start the negotiations”, he said.
On April 16 Steven Mann arrived in Yerevan within frames of his first
familiarization visit in the region of Karabakh conflict. Tomorrow he
will leave for Tbilisi and then for Baku. T.M. –0–

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V. OSKANYAN: DEMANDS OF ARMENIAN OPPOSITION INCORRECT AND NOT IN
ACCORDANCE TO CONSTITUTION

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. The demands of power change of the
Armenian opposition are incorrect and their objective to change the
power if needed even by force is not in accordance to the Law and the
Constitution, as Vardan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister stated on his
briefing. In his words, holding meetings is the opposition’s right
while they remain in the frames of the law and the Constitution. He
also mentioned that the Armenian opposition should shape its
objectives differently in order not to transgress the law and the
Constitution and “to continue raise its voice of protest in respect
of various social issues that are within the frames of its right”.
However, changing the power by force or other unconstitutional
methods can be reserved to nobody”, he said. At the same time, he
expressed a hope that the rally of the opposition scheduled on April
21 will be peaceful and “they will not go to unconstitutional steps”,
that may impact negatively on Armenia’s image”. T.M. –0–

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RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES FAMOUS CANADIAN ARMENIAN SINGER ISABEL
BAIRAKDARIAN

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received
famous Canadian Armenian Singer Isabel Bairakdarian. During the
meeting, the singer who visited Armenian for the first time, stated
that she is impressed with her stay in Armenia and plans to make
similar visits periodical. Bairakdarian said that she is admired and
surprised with rich cultural life of Armenia and high professionalism
of Armenian musicians. L.D. –0–

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RA MINISTER OF DEFENSE RECEIVES AMERICAN CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MG

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsian
received American Co-Chairman of OSCE MG Steven Mann. During the
meeting the parties discussed present level of Karabakh conflict
settlement and possible ways of settlement. Sargsian noted the role
of OSCE MG in settlement of the conflict and confirmed Armenian
position considering peaceful settlement of the conflict. L.D. –0–