MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
11 November 2004
Minister Oskanian Receives Heads of Policy Planning Departments of French
and German Foreign Ministries
On 11 November, Minister Vartan Oskanian received Political Director
of Germany’s Foreign Office Dr. Michael Schafer and French Deputy
Secretary General for Political and Security Affairs Stanislas Lefevre
de Laboulaye in the framework of their three-day visit to Armenia
following similar trips to Baku and Tbilisi.
This visit is the first time when a format including senior officials
of French and German foreign policy agencies is used in the context
of regional policy of these two EU axis states.
The discussion that evolved within political framework of The Wider
Europe and The New Neighborhood policy explored issues related to
increased level of interaction between the countries of the South
Caucasus and European Union and new opportunities offered by this
new EU policy.
The parties stressed the importance of France-Germany axis for the
success of this new EU policy and noted that this model could be
followed in the South Caucasus in pursuit of peaceful and civilized
co-existence in the region.
The parties further explored issues related to Armenia – Turkey
relations against the background of imminent negotiations for Turkey’s
accession.
The parties also discussed the current stage and issues of Nagorno
Karabagh conflict settlement. Minister Oskanian stressed Armenia’s
adherence to her commitment to settle the conflict through peaceful
negotiations and the country’s readiness to restart the negotiations
at any moment subject to reciprocal readiness of Azerbaijan.
On the same day, the Foreign Ministry hosted a round table with
participation of French-German delegation.