PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
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Armenia’s FM Oskanian Receives Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov
Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov arrived in Armenia for his first working
visit late Wednesday, February 16. On February 17, Minister Oskanian
received his Russian counterpart at Armenia’s Foreign Ministry for a lengthy
meeting.
The Armenian Foreign Minister welcomed Minister Lavrov’s visit to Yerevan,
noting that in the last decade Armenia-Russia relations have deepened, with
strategic cooperation between the two based on common interests. Minister
Lavrov, too, expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation and
the positive direction of interstate contacts. As evidence, he pointed to
the fact that 2005 is the Year of Russia, in Armenia.
Noting that there is a conflation of opinion and approach surrounding
various international and regional developments, the sides expressed
readiness to take the necessary steps to create an atmosphere of reciprocal
confidence and cooperation in the South Caucasus. In this context, the
Armenian and Russian ministers discussed the current stage of negotiations
surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Minister Lavrov expressed hope
that the Prague Process would give the two sides the opportunity to find
common ground for the quick settlement of the conflict, and reaffirmed
Russia’s readiness to serve as guarantor for whatever agreement is reached
by the sides.
The two ministers discussed the main issues on the Armenia-Russia agenda.
They focused specifically on economic matters and spoke of the effeciveness
of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the
Armenia-Russia Business Cooperation Union. They noted that such cooperation
can only be aided by the recently enhanced contacts between Armenia’s
regions and specific Russian companies.
In the context of improved economic relations, Ministers Oskanian and Lavrov
stressed the importance of a unified policy on the part of the countries of
the South Caucasus and Russia towards the reestablishment of communication
lines in the region, noting that this would at the same time benefit the
settlement of existing conflicts. The ministers acknowledged that some
progress is noticeable in this area and discussed a series of issues which
still await resolution.
In the context of the Year of Russia, they discussed humanitarian
activities, cultural exchange, and a variety of programs and activities and
programs in the fields of trade, culture, science, education, information,
youth, sports and tourism which will begin by mid-March. Armenia’s and
Russia’s top diplomats also discussed the need to encourage and facilitate
Armenian and Russian language instruction in each other’s countries,
especially in the context of the historic friendship between the two
peoples.
On the bilateral agenda, the ministers examined issues relating to Armenian
citizens in Russia, such as residency, status and work quotas, as well as
specific consular and diplomatic matters.
Minister Lavrov and Minister Oskanian conferred about cooperation in
international and regional organizations, CIS reforms, cooperation in the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and UN reform.
During his one-day visit, Minister Lavrov, who had last visited Armenia
over a decade earlier, placed a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide
Memorial, visited Armenia’s Slavonic University, and participated in a joint
news conference with Minister Oskanian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress