In defense minister Serge Sargsian's words, the program for 2003 "is practically similar with the one for this year."

On behalf of the head of Pridnestrovie Igor Smirnov the guests wished the acting NKR President Arkady Ghukasian success in coming presidential elections August 11.

"Today I can say that they are battle-worthy and are ready to carry out the tasks put," - the minister said.

the chairman of the trade-industrial chamber of Igdir Turkish city Tayar Oral said this in the course of the meeting with representatives of "Center of Gyumri of the Caucasus" non-governmental organization.

The Azeri foreign ministry statement in particular says that at the moment when peaceful negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh problem settlement continue, "the action of election of illegal Karabakh authorities" is considered as a challenge to the international legal norms and organizations.

He substantiated his opinion saying that the Russian diplomat had not spoken about the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in his statement, but had only noted Moscow's support of the principle.

Israeli ambassador to US Daniel Ayalon stated it in response to the continuing international campaign against seizure of the lands of the Jerusalem Armenian patriarchate by the Israeli army.

Vice-Speaker of the House of Lords of the British parliament Caroline Cox has arrived in Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian, defense minister Serge Sargsian, as well as the military attaches of the US, French, Iranian and other diplomatic representations' accredited in Armenia will be present at the Armenian-Russian military maneuvers.

Legislative amendments package adopted by Turkey parliament at the end of last week did not remove the obstacles on the Ankara’s way of joining the European Community. European Commission as an executive came out against speeding up Turkey admittance to European people’s family. Gjunter Ferholgen, representative of Eurocommission subcommittee concerned the European Community extension, has mentioned that notwithstanding the adopted amendments, before beginning discussions of Turkey possible joining EC it is necessary to look through the future progress of current affairs connected with Kurds and religious minorities rights guaranteeing.