December 23 representatives of the leadership of the law-enforcement departments of Armenia and Georgia met with the authorities of the Samtskhe-Javakhetia Georgian region mainly populated by Armenians.

January 17-18, 2004 the second international conference on Armenia, titled "Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development and Economic Growth," will be held in the World Bank Washington Headquarters.

The law-enforcement bodies of Russia have revealed new facts confirming the close ties between the Chechen terrorists and Azerbaijan. The regional operative headquarters of anti-terrorist operations has spread recently information that in Baku there is a fund financing the activity of extremist groups operating in the Northern Caucasus. Immediately after, the Russian Ministry of Interior publicized a statement reading about the successful operation on reveal of the channels of financing. The Ministry of Interior of Russia assures that the trace of the sponsors reaches the capital city of Azerbaijan.