Stepanakert, July 26.  At a news conference, Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian summarized the results of his cabinet's work of the past three years.  He noted that because Nagorno Karabakh cannot receive loans from international financial institutions, the government relies heavily on foreign investments in order to boost economic development.  The authorities have significantly liberalized the economy, lowering the

profit and income taxes from 25% to 5%, land tax from 15% to 6% and trade tax to 2.4%.  Meanwhile, due to increased trade and production, tax revenues increased by 16%.  Since 1999, more than $20 million has been invested in Nagorno Karabakh, primarily in telecommunications, wood processing and tourism by American, European and Middle Eastern companies. 

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Stepanakert, July 11. Six leading Nagorno Karabakh non-governmental organizations made a statement, criticizing the international community for its unwillingness to support democratic processes in the NKR.  The statement, signed by the representatives of the Helsinki Initiative - 92, Stepanakert Press Club, Nagorno Karabakh Institute for Public Diplomacy, Young Democrats Union, Tradition Center, Fund for Social Development and other NGOs, said that development of democracy, protection of human rights and regional integration proc

esses should be the basis for conflict resolution.  It slammed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair member-states, international organizations and funds for their reluctance to directly cooperate with Nagorno Karabakh NGOs.  It also decried their refusal to finance implementation of democracy development projects in Nagorno Karabakh and appealed to the international community to assist in building a civil society. 

Stepanakert, July 26.  President Arkady Ghoukasian received members of the Armenian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (AUIE) and the Armenian Development Agency (ADA).  Briefing the guests on the current economic situation, Ghoukasian

stressed that Nagorno Karabakh's independence can be strengthened only through sustained economic development.  He said that Nagorno Karabakh cannot utilize the resources of international financial institutions since it is not

formally recognized by the international community.  Because of this, the government views foreign investments as the primary means for developing the economy, which has been badly crippled by the war.  Favorable

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Stepanakert, July 25.  A conference entitled "Nagorno Karabakh Women for Peace and Peaceful Coexistence" took place in Stepanakert.  The conference was organized by the Armenian "Democracy Today" NGO with the assistance of the NKR Foreign Ministry.  In her opening remarks, Foreign

Minister Naira Melkumian stressed that women play an important role in ensuring peace and stability.  She said that in order to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, society's collective will and courage is needed in addition to the efforts of the international mediators.  "There is no

sensible alternative to constructive dialogue and peaceful coexistence.  Our vision of peace is the establishment of stability and trust in the region as well as integration in economic, social and political spheres", said Melkumian.