ARMENIA HAS SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS: NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian and his Norwegian counterpart Jan Petersen held a
joint news conference on October 11 dedicated to the issues of the
present level of Armenian-Norwegian bilateral relations, prospects
of deepening links between the two countries, as well as assessment
of the fulfillment of commitments Armenia has pledged before the
Council of Europe. We would remind you that currently Norway is
the chairing country in the CE Ministerial Council and will be
replaced by Poland in November. Both ministers highly appreciated
the current level of bilateral relations between Armenia and Norway
and expressed willingness to enlarge cooperation. “Jan Peterson’s
visit is a stimulus for further development of our relations,”
Vardan Oskanian stated. The ministers said the sides have agreed to
deepen cooperation in the spheres of culture and energy. The Norwegian
foreign minister stressed a number of Norwegian energy companies are
interested in cooperation with Armenia, first of all in the sphere
of hydroenergy. During the visit he studied the process of fulfilment
of the program on provididing refugees with houses being implemented
by the Norwegian Council on Refugees. The two ministers spoke for
continuing and enlarging this program. “The Norwegian people are
following the developments in your country attentively and Armenia
has a special place in our hearts,” the Norwegian minister said. In
relation to Armenia’s fulfilling the commitments before the CE,
Jan Peterson said it is first of all important for Armenia itself.