A military delegation from Armenia failed in its efforts to participate in "Cooperative Best Effort-2004" military training exercises planning session in Baku, Azerbaijan this week.

As part of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program, Armenia is among countries invited to participate in training programs next September in Azerbaijan. Previous exercises were held in 2002 in Georgia and last year in Armenia. Azerbaijan did not attend the program in Armenia. On the contrary, Armenia has maintained that it will send a delegation to Azerbaijan.

Full story

Former National Security Service lieutenant colonel Levon Abrahamyan has been sentenced to six years in prison for attempted murder last September of Minister of Defense Serj Sargsyan.

After five court sessions, Judge Ruben Nersisyan found Abrahamyan guilty of trying to kill Sargsyan by blowing up the Minister's car.

Full story

The Armenian Natural Monopolies Commission has approved a 1-cent raise in the price of natural gas.

At the request of the monopolist gas company "HayRusGasArd" a Russian-Armenian JSC, beginning March 1, the price of gas will go from 51 drams (about nine cents) to 59 drams (10 cents) per cubic meter.

Large-scale consumers who buy more than 10,000 cubic meters per month will not be subject to the price increase. And it is that stipulation that disappointed the gas company as it slowly works to restore natural gas service throughout the republic.

Full story

"Everything is beautiful if you look at everything through beauty."

With exactly such a look things thrown in the garbage were transformed into masterpieces of art in the hands of film director Sergey Parajanov. His ability to find beauty in everything transformed broken dishes into bouquets of glass; turned a worn-out suitcase preserved from childhood into an elephant.

This year Sergey Parajanov would have become 80 years old. The internationally-acclaimed artist died in 1990 at the age of 66, following years of Soviet persecution.

Full story

The Armenian government approved on Thursday a scheme designed to encourage local families to accept and raise children from state-run orphanages, promising to reward them with financial assistance.

The move followed a major toughening of procedures for the adoption of Armenian children by foreign nationals which was announced by ministers late last month.

Full story

It is the dead of winter.

Daggers of ice hang from drainage pipes above sidewalks buried under a half-foot of snow. The thermometer on the Opera House begins its display with a minus sign and citizens of Yerevan carry the seasonal slump of cold air's unseen burden.

Full story

On January 17 winners of the local leagues of all 15 former Soviet republics and Russian U-19 teams will meet at the CIS Cup competition in Moscow. It is the 11th year of Cup competition.

SEE Also   Tennis (ATP Tour)

Full story