PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
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Minister Oskanian Meets with UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Minister Oskanian paid a working visit to the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland on April 21 – 22. He held a series of official
meetings, spoke to a group of experts and academics, and met with
representatives of the Armenian community.
On Thursday, April 22, Minister Oskanian met with Foreign Secretary Jack
Straw and Parliamentary Undersecretary Bill Rammell. The Minister briefed
them on Armenia’s domestic situation and progress in economic development.
They also spoke about Armenia’s relations with its neighbors, regional
developments, including the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations process, and the
situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Secretary indicated their support for
Caucasus inclusion in the European Union’s Wider Europe New Neighborhood
Initiative. Minister Oskanian extended an invitation to Secretary Straw to
visit Armenia.
Earlier in the day, the Minister had a working lunch with Sir Brian Fall,
Special Envoy to the Caucasus, Terry Davis, Member of Parliament and the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Rapporteur on Nagorno
Karabakh, as well as Simon Butt, Head of the UK Foreign Office Eastern
Department. They discussed Armenia’s engagement in European structures, as
well as prospects for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The Minister also held a morning meeting with Angus Robertson, member of
Parliament, and head of the Parliament’s South Caucasus group.
On Wednesday, the Minister made a presentation at the Royal Institute of
International Studies (Chatham House) on The New Caucasus in a Rapidly
Changing Geopolitical Context. The Minister addressed an invited group of
academics, regional experts, journalists and members of the international
community. The Minister talked about four major challenges facing Armenia in
the region: security, development, Eurointegration and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. This was a return visit. Minister Oskanian last held such a talk
at the highly respected Chatham House in March 1999.
Questions covered relations with Turkey, prospects for resolution of the
Karabakh conflict, Armenia’s domestic situation, and Armenia’s expectations
of European integration.
The Minister also met with a group of community youth leaders and
representatives about Armenia’s foreign and domestic situation, economic
development. He welcomed the interest of the youth in Armenia’s and
Diaspora’s development and encouraged their continuing involvement. He also
invited them to Armenia to participate in a variety of projects in order to
become more closely engaged and informed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress