ARKA News Agency – 10/18/2004

ARKA News Agency
Oct 20 2004

RA Minister of Finance and Economy highly appreciates the
implementation of the programs of WB in Armenia

NKR President meets famous American philanthropist of armenian origin
Vahe Karapetyan

Armenian intelligence services arrests holder of radioactive stuff

RA Foreign Minister to begin an official visit to Italy today

*********************************************************************

RA MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY HIGHLY APPRECIATES THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMS OF WB IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatryan highly appreciated the implementation of the
programs of WB in Armenia. As he stated to ARKA, but for the programs
of the WB, the country would have quite other problems and the level
of life. According to the Minister, `the finances assigned by the WB
are mainly used efficiently and contribute to the development of the
state’.
During the period of cooperation with Armenia since 1992, WB has
granted credits for 36 programs totaling $820,80 mln. At present,
Armenia receives the credits of the WB in terms of International
Development Association (IDA) for 40 years with the 0,75% privileged
annual rate , which is given to poor countries. A.H. -0 –

*********************************************************************

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS FAMOUS AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIST OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN
VAHE KARAPETYAN

STEPANAKERT, October 18. /ARKA/. President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic Arkadi Ghukasyan met famous American philanthropist of
Armenian origin Vahe Karapetyan. As NKR Main Information Center told
ARKA, during the meeting Ghukasyan gave a high esteem to the programs
implemented by Karapetyan in Artsakh and expressed a hope that he
will continue contributing considerably into development of the
Republic.
In his turn Karapetyan informed NKR President on his intention to
undertake financing of program for maintenance of North-South highway
that is of strategic importance for NKR after the completion of its
construction. During the meeting he also reported about other
projects implemented in Artsakh sponsored by him, particularly
reconstruction of church in Agavno village and development and the
adjacent territory to the church.
During his visit he acquainted the course of works on technical
maintenance of Goris-Stepanakert highway sponsored by him. In his
words, currently building of organization Road Maintenance that is
implementing the project is being renovated, while another hangar is
being constructed for keeping and maintenance of the necessary
equipment. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ARRESTS HOLDER OF RADIOACTIVE STUFF

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. As a result of operative-investigatory
measures on October 15, 2004 the Armenian National Security Service
arrested à resident of Yerevan Gagik Tovmasyan, b. 1959 charged with
smuggling of radioactive stuff. As Armenian Security Service Press
Center told ARKA, as à result of inspection of his car, the
authorities detected radioactive material cesium-137 that spreads
rapidly and seriously damages human health causing heavy deceases of
blood. The authorities brought a charge lead by Armenian National
Security. No information is reported about the origin of the
radioactive stuff, its amount and purposes. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO BEGIN AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO ITALY TODAY

YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. The RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
will begin his official visit to Italy today. According to the Media
and Information Department of RA Foreign Ministry, in frames of the
visit Oskanian will conduct meetings with his Italian colleague
Franco Frattini, the Mayor of Venice Paolo Costa and Giancarlo Galan,
Governor of Veneto region. The sides will discuss issues of bilateral
relations, Karabakh conflict settlement, Armenia-Turkey relations,
involvement of Turkey in European integration and integration
processes of Armenia in European structures, in particular in frames
of European neighbourhood program. The RA Foreign Minister will also
participate in round table session on the theme “South Caucasus:
stability and security in the region “. Oskanian will also visit the
Congregation of Mkhitarians on St. Lazzaro Island and the Center for
Armenian Culture Research and Publication in Venice. On October 22,
the RA Foreign Minister will leave Italy for Lion, where he will take
part in the arrangement organized by Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. On
October 28-29 Oskanian will head the Armenian delegation on the
session of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Black Sea
Economic Cooperation in Tbilisi. L.V.–0–
***************************************