ADDRESS TO NATION: In his holiday address President Robert Kocharyan said last year would be remembered as a time of peace, building and development for Armenia.

The president said that the year was characterized by enormous amounts of construction. "What was done thanks to Kirk Kirkorian and the Lincy Foundation was simply a miracle," he said. He also said that "we have all the conditions in place to turn the year 2004 into a year of stability and rapid development for our country."

NATO PROGRAM IN BAKU: Despite Anti-Armenian threats heard in Baku, an Armenian Defense Ministry delegation will take part in a conference sponsored by NATO to be held in Baku this year, Yerkir reported January 6. "The conference is organized under NATO's 'Partnership for Peace,' and Armenia is not going to drop out from working in this program," a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.

An Azerbaijani group, called Karabakh Liberation Organization had earlier called on the Azerbaijani authorities to forbid the Armenian delegation's entry to Azerbaijan, and has threatened that it would prevent Armenian servicemen from entering Azerbaijan.

"ARARAT" CANCELLED IN TURKEY: Plans for a January release of Atom Egoyan's film "Ararat" in Turkey have reportedly been cancelled, a week after the government had approved the screening, Armenpress reported January 7. A Turkish extremist group has published a statement on its website threatening theatre owners who screen the film, which examines the impact of the Armenian genocide by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.

The Armenian National Committee of Canada has stated that the "terrorist-style threats" are preventing people from learning the truth about the country's violent past.

ALIEV FOR SETTLEMENT: In a New Year message Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev said the new year of 2004 may mark a new phase in the regulation of opposition with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh, Armenpress reported.

Aliev voiced hope that the international team of peace brokers from the OSCE Minsk group will step up its efforts to tackle the problem. He also said that Azerbaijan anticipates the international community's support for just regulation of the 16-year-long conflict.

ECONOMIC GROWTH 2003: Armenia's economic growth in 2003 was nine percent, President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with the country's businessmen January 4, ITAR-TASS News Agency reported.

He said exports had increased 35 percent and industrial production by 21 percent. The president said that much attention would be given in 2004 to loans and support of small and medium-size business. He cited as one of priorities in the new year the policy of encouragement of exports.

TURKEY WELCOMES TOURISTS: The general headquarters of the Turkish army made January 8 a historical decision to allow filming and taking photos of the sights situated in closed military zones but representing certain interest for tourists, Arminfo reported citing the Turkish newspaper Aksam.

This refers to the ruins of the ancient capital of Armenia, Ani, the mosque near the Turkish-Georgian border and the area including the Mount Ararat. A relevant bill has been submitted to the Turkish parliament by the country's defense ministry.

MINE CLEARING: "The HALO Trust" British humanitarian organization engaged in land mine clearing in post-conflict zones intends to continue its activities in Nagorno Karabakh in 2004, PanARMENIAN.Net reported January 8.

Since 2000 some 2,200 antipersonnel, 1,000 antitank mines, 23,000 unexploded shells and over 75,000 small-bore ammunition were neutralized in the course of the works. The organization representatives suppose that if the current rate of mine clearing is preserved the Nagorno Karabakh territory will become mine-free in 7 years.