YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. At the meeting with the "Troika" of the European Union - the Foreign Minister of Sweden Anna Lindh, the EU High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the EU Commissioner responsible for External Relations, Chris Patten - Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian discussed today the perspectives of increasing the effectiveness of TRACECA and INOGATE programs.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Anna Lindh, Foreign Minister of Sweden, presiding in the EU, stated today that Yerevan assured EU "Troika" that the Karabakh conflict must be resolved only through peaceful, political means.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. The President of Armenia Robert Kocharian spoke today at the meeting with the "Troika" of the European Union of the necessity to begin Armenian-Azerbaijani economic cooperation.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Ukraine is interested in participating in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Several thousands of small traders are picketing the building of the National Assembly of Armenia, the parliamentary correspondent of Mediamax reports.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Chairman of the Armenian permanent parliamentary commission for defense, national security and internal affairs, Vahan Hovanisian stated today that the lack of information concerning the Armenian Genocide and the absence of influential Armenian community in China hamper the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Chinese authorities.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Armen Khachatrian said today that activation of relations with China must become one of prior directions of the foreign policy of Armenia.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. Presidents of Armenia and Russia had a telephone talk on February 19, held on the initiative of the Armenian side.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. The initiative of the French President Jacques Chirac, who invited Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to visit Paris in early March to hold talks, excited great apprehension in Baku, Bilik Dunyasi agency reports.

YEREVAN, February 20. /Mediamax/. The American influential New York Times paper reported today that after seven years of an uneasy truce and stalled peace talks, signs of progress have emerged in the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.