ARMENIAN SPEAKER DISCUSSES COOPERATION WITH FRENCH, GERMAN DIPLOMATS
Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Nov 04
Yerevan, 12 November: The involvement of the South Caucasus in the
Expanded Europe: New Neighbours programme opens promising prospects for
the development of the whole region in terms of deepening democracy,
overcoming conflicts and implementing economic projects. The speaker
of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, said this at
a meeting with the political directors of the foreign ministries
of France and Germany, Stanislas Lefebvre de Laboulaye and Michael
Scheffer, on 11 November.
The guests said that they were on a fact-finding tour of the South
Caucasus to find out about future developments in the region to which
the European Union attaches great importance.
The Noyan Tapan news agency learnt from the press service of the
Armenian National Assembly that the sides also discussed relations
between Armenia and Turkey. It was noted that Armenia was not against
Turkey’s membership of the European Union but was against double
standards in connection with the recognition of the genocide and the
elimination of the blockade which was impeding Armenia’s economic
development.
The political directors of the German and French Foreign Ministries
noted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in developing
the region and overcoming confrontation. The sides also noted the
importance of contacts and discussions both within the framework of
the Caucasus republics and Armenian-Turkish relations.