ArmenPress
July 5 2004
PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF CONSTITUTION
DAY
YEREVAN, JULY 5, ARMENPRESS: Dear Compatriots: I extend to you my
congratulations on the occasion of the Constitution Day. Adoption of
the Constitution encompasses a historic significance for any nation
and state. The Constitution has become a strong impetus for
fundamental reforms in the Armenian legislation, as well as for
reinforcement of the people’s power and establishment of the
supremacy of law.
Celebrating the Constitution Day we, as citizens, celebrate the
Day of our rights and liberties. The existing Constitution has proven
its vitality on many occasions. Its resolute implementation
guarantees the rule of law and stability in the country. On the other
hand, within our society has matured the necessity for improvement
and bringing the Constitution in line with the contemporary needs.
Once again congratulating you on the occasion of the Constitution
Day, I transmit to you my belief, that the Basic Law of our country
will be improved and will serve the people of Armenia for a long
time.

ArmenPress
July 5 2004
PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN’S ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF
CONSTITUTION DAY
YEREVAN, JULY 5, ARMENPRESS: Dear compatriots, I congratulate you
on the occasion of the Constitution Day of the Republic of Armenia.
By adopting the Basic Law of the Republic of Armenia in 1995 our
state and people expressed their resoluteness and determination to
take the path of integration with the civilized world, consolidation
of democratic values and building the civic society.
The Constitution has undoubtedly promoted further establishment of
our independence and sovereignty in the passed years and ensured also
domestic and external stability in difficult situations. However, the
life is advancing and new realities are making their demands of the
society and the state, which, naturally, should be fixed in the Basic
Law.
However, it is important that constitutional reforms be
implemented in the atmosphere of consistency of political forces, be
fully comprehended and find the support of the entire society. And
only in that case the Constitution will perform its main role of
ensuring our citizens’ prosperity and solidarity, protection of basic
human and citizens’ rights and freedoms in conformity with
internationally declared principles and norms and make our
long-cherished national dreams and goals come true.
I am confident that as a result of the reforms, to be carried out
through our joint efforts we shall eventually have a Constitution
that will be the main guarantor of prosperity of our state and
society.

ArmenPress
July 6 2004
ARMENIAN AGRICULTURE SET TO RECEIVE $10 MILLION LOANS IN 2005
YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: Agricultural minister David Lokian
said last week the government is set to receive two new credits in
2005 to direct them to agric lure development. The main components of
the credits, according to the minister, are leasing of technologies
and machine building.
The minister said the government will provide 25-50 percent loan
guarantees to farmers in order to ensure collaterals for small and
medium- sized enterprises dealing with agriculture. He also said new
loans will be made available at lower interest rates. “President
Kocharian has directly instructed the Central bank and the ministry
that the interest rates must not exceed 10 percent,” the minister
said, adding that this issue must be also reconciled with World Bank.
A World bank representative in Armenia said the anticipated amount
of loans is approximately $10 million.

ArmenPress
July 6 2004
16 ARMENIAN CITIZENS QUALIFY FOR OLYMPIC GAMES
YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian tennis-player Sarkis
Sarkisian has become the 16-th Armenian national qualifying for
Olympic Games in Athens this summer. Two other ethnic Armenians,-
David Nalbandian from Argentina and Magdalena Maleyeva-Berberian from
Bulgaria, also tennis players have qualified for Athens Games.

Armenian minister, Council of Europe leader discuss regional cooperation
Noyan Tapan news agency
5 Jul 04
Yerevan, 5 July: The secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Bruno
Haller, briefed Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan on 5 July on
his meetings with representatives of the Armenian authorities,
political parties, opposition and public organizations. He said that
the main aim of his visit was to familiarize himself with what was
going on in Armenia, especially in the light of PACE’s April
resolution. [In April PACE gave Armenia until September to sort out
its domestic political problems; this included ensuring freedom of
speech and assembly.] Haller expressed his hope that the authorities
and opposition would be able to find a way out of the current
situation before the National Assembly’s September session in order to
continue parliament’s normal work.
At the PACE secretary-general’s request, Oskanyan briefly touched on
Armenian-Turkish bilateral meetings in Istanbul during the NATO summit
and trilateral meetings of the foreign ministers, with the
participation of Azerbaijan, the Armenian Foreign Ministry press
service told Noyan Tapan news agency.
The meeting also touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement process.
Oskanyan noted the importance of measures to foster trust and of
regional cooperation programmes, supported by the Council of Europe,
to develop the South Caucasus. In response, Haller stressed the need
for cooperation between the regional parliaments, adding that his
mission was to stimulate interparliamentary dialogue.

Armenian PM calls for political accord in holiday address
Noyan Tapan news agency
5 Jul 04

YEREVAN
“In adopting the constitution in 1995, our state and people showed the
civilized world our country’s readiness and determination to follow
the path of integration, of strengthening democratic values and of
creating a civil society,” Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan
says in his Constitution Day congratulatory message.
The prime minister said that over recent years the constitution had
enabled the establishment of an independent state in very difficult
conditions and had also guaranteed the country’s internal and external
stability. “However, life moves on, new realities make their demands
of society and the state, which of course should be fixed in the basic
law.” Andranik Markaryan notes the importance of constitutional
reforms being made in an atmosphere of political accord and says that
they should be completely accepted and supported by society. The prime
minister is convinced that, only if this is the case, “will the
Constitution of the Republic of Armenia fulfil its main role in
ensuring the well-being of citizens, defending the human rights and
freedoms of citizens in accordance with universal principles and
norms, and will it enable the fulfilment of pan-national dreams and
goals”.
In the address, sent by the government’s press service to Noyan Tapan
news agency, Andranik Markaryan expresses his certainty that “as a
result of reforms put into action by joint efforts, we will at the end
have a constitution which will be the main guarantor of our state’s
prosperity”.

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 6 2004
RUSSIA-ARMENIA RELATIONS ARE ON THE RISE, RUSSIAN MP SAYS
MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russia-Armenia relations are on the
rise, believes Andrei Kokoshin, chair of the CIS Affairs Committee in
the State Duma, or the lower Russian parliamentary house.
In a RIA interview after his meeting with Vardan Oskanyan Tuesday,
Kokoshin said that the Armenian Foreign Minister’s visit had
demonstrated yet again that the two countries were steadily improving
their relations, as befit strategic allies.
“If all states of the region built their national security systems
within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty, like Armenia
does, peace would be much more durable here,” the Russian MP argues.
According to Kokoshin, his detailed talks with Oskanyan covered a
whole number of issues relating to bilateral Russo-Armenian relations
as well as international security issues of mutual concern, including
the situation in the South Caucasus, economic cooperation, and
Armenia’s involvement in integration processes inside the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
Russia and Armenia stand close on issues concerning the threat of
Georgia’s internal conflicts spilling over to neighboring countries,
Kokoshin said. He expressed hope that Russia and Armenia would
continue to develop their economic and humanitarian cooperation.

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 6 2004
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES ARMENIAN-AZERI STRIVING FOR
KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
has welcomed Armenia and Azerbaijan’s striving for the Nagorny
Karabakh (a region in Azerbaijan populated mainly by Armenians)
settlement.
“We discussed the settlement issues and are satisfied with the
resumption of contacts between the Armenian and Azeri leaders and
ministers and promotion of the OSCE Minsk group’s activities,” Sergei
Lavrov told journalists following the talks with his Armenian
counterpart Vardan Oskanyan.
Speaking about the work of the OSCE Minsk group on the Nagorny
Karabakh settlement, the Russian minister said that the recent
meetings in this format prove that the sides are ready to search ways
to solve this problem.
The minister did not give practical settlement mechanisms. “The sides
agreed to continue discussion. It would be wrong to disclose details
of the talks,” Mr. Lavrov noted.
The Russian Foreign Minister positively assessed Vardan Oskanyan’s
first official visit to Russia.
According to Sergei Lavrov, Armenia and Russia boast long-term
friendly relations and are members of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization. Relations with Armenia is a priority of Russian policy,
he added.
The Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers focused on the development
of economic and investment cooperation. Sergei Lavrov came out for
elaboration of additional economic projects. Moreover, they
considered transport development and Russia promised political
support to Armenia in this sphere, Sergei Lavrov said.

Armenian army chief praises army
Arminfo
6 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The borders of the Republic of Armenia “are locked”, the chief of the
General Staff of the Armenian armed forces, Col-Gen Mikael Arutyunyan,
told journalists today.
He said that the Armenian armed forces are battleworthy and have the
necessary material and technical resources, armaments and are fully
staffed with soldiers and officers who are ready to fulfil all the set
targets. The general stressed that 96 per cent of the command staff
are graduates of the Vazgen Sarkisyan Military Academy of the Armenian
Defence Ministry.
Answering a question about the Azerbaijani army he noted that it is
also strengthening the state of its army’s combat effectiveness. It
would be wrong to say that it remained at the level of 1990, the
colonel-general said.

Armenian State TV and Radio Committee joins European media union
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
5 Jul 04
Armenia’s first TV channel has taken its first step towards
integration into Europe. The Armenian State Television and Radio
Committee became a member of the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU). Seventy one companies from the world’s 52 countries are members
of the EBU.
[Passage omitted: EBU background].