ArmenPress
March 26 2004

RICHARD ARMITAGE RECEIVED BY ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS: US Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage, who arrived today in Yerevan for a short visit from
Kiev, Ukraine, was received by Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian to discuss the full scope of prospects and possibilities for
regional development and the current situation in the South Caucasus.
The Armenian foreign ministry said the two men exchanged also
ideas on resolution of the Karabagh conflict and expressed their
satisfaction over the current level of bilateral relations, sharing
the same view that diverse and well-developed bilateral contacts must
be boosted by a deeper political dialogue. Later in the day he is
scheduled to meet with Armenian president Robert Kocharian.
Armitage’s visit to Yerevan is part of a regional visit and today
he will leave Yerevan for Baku, Azerbaijan.
In Baku Armitage will discuss the interaction in fighting with
terrorism with president Ilham Aliyev and other top official of the
country, apart from discussing regional security, development of
bilateral relations, political and economic reforms in Azerbaijan,
implementation of large-scale projects in the energy sector, and the
settlement of the Karabagh problem. Armitage also plans to meet with
some leaders of opposition parties.