On 15 October President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan who arrived in Artsakh on the same day. Issues related to cooperation with the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress, particularly the process and prospects of programs carried out in Artsakh, were discussed during the meeting. The Head of the State underlined that these Pan-Armenian organizations had played an active role in strengthening the independent Armenian statehood, preserving national identity of Armenians living abroad and consolidating Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity. Bako Sahakyan noted that Artsakh is interested in further widening and deepening cooperation with the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress. Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan and Artsakh Republic vice-premier, finance minister Spartak Tevosyan partook at the meeting. On the same day Ara Abrahamyan and a group of members of the Union of Armenians of Russia were awarded with the NKR state awards for services shown to the Artsakh Republic and its people and in connection with the 10th anniversary of the organization’s establishment. Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, chairman of the National Assembly Ashot Ghoulyan, premier Ara Haroutyunyan, minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranoush Hakobyan and other officials partook at the awarding ceremony. On 14 October President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on awarding a group of members of the Union of Armenians of Russia with the Artsakh Republic state awards. For exclusive courage and personal bravery shown in defending the Motherland lieutenant-general Norat Ter-Grigoryan, member of the board of the Union of Armenians of Russia, head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, deputy defense minister of the Republic of Armenia in the period of 1992-1994 was awarded with the “Battle Cross” Order of the second degree. For exclusive services shown to the Artsakh Republic chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan was awarded with the “Grigor Lousavorich” order. For contribution to restoration and development of the Artsakh Republic economy and considerable philanthropic activity the “Vachagan Barepasht” medal was awarded to the first vice-chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia Georgy Ter-Ghazaryants, The “Gratitude” medal was awarded to Arnold Adamyan, member of the Board of the Union of Armenians of Russia, academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences; Henry Aghayan, member of the Board of the Union of Armenians of Russia, academician of the International Academy of Medical Sciences; Vladimir Aghayan, member of the Board of the Union of Armenians of Russia, director of the Armenian branch of the World Armenian Congress; Samvel Grigoryan, member of the Board of the Union of Armenians of Russia, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences. CENTRAL INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT

---