But Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit refused the opposition call to cancel the $668 million contract with Israel on modernization of tanks.

Armenian Ministry of Defense press service reports after the negotiations with the representatives of the military and political leadership of the country signing a protocol on bilateral cooperation in the defense sphere is planned.

Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who is in Dushanbe on an official visit, will meet with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Akil Akilov and will discuss the prospects of bilateral economic relations with him.

«Yezhednevniye Novosti» («Daily News») newspaper being published in Baku disputes with «Zerkalo» Baku newspaper, which had published a number of articles called to convince the compatriots in the extremely low morale of the Armenian army.

The ceremonial laying of the foundation of the building of the Armenian culture center was held in Kazakhstan former capital of Almati the other day.

In the course of the visit the Russian First Lady will participate in the rewarding ceremony of the winners of the contest for the best composition in Russian.

A trial of the case against hijackers of Azerbaijan’s branch of the “Hisbut-Tahrir” international terrorist organization has started in Baku. We recall that 6 Azerbaijani citizens are being accused of an attempt to overthrow the state regime and to prepare terrorist acts using firearms. “Turan” agency of Baku informs that they are particularly accused of preparation of the terrorist acts against the U.S. Embassy and offices of international organizations in Baku. According to investigation materials, the members of the group, the center of which is in Palestine, under the pretence of religious propaganda were intending to change the political system of Azerbaijan and to create an Islamic state there.