The situation with government corruption in Armenia has continued to slowly but steadily deteriorate in the past year, according to the latest global survey released by a respected anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday.

He began by saying, "Yesterday was a very important and historic day for us." At some point in his speech he said: "Half the journey is taking the first step. The presidents have come half way. Having reached the half-way point they instructed their ministers to accomplish the rest of the journey." Armenian's Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbantyan invited us to lunch. In the Foreign Ministry, one of the splendid buildings surrounding Republic Square in Yerevan, we sat in his office and talked about Abdullah Gul's "historic visit" and we lunched together. Sitting at the table and translating for us was Arsen Avakyan, who had translated for Gul and Sarkisyan during their meeting.