PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: information@armeniaForeignMinistry.com
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Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on official visit to Equatorial
Guinea

On February 20, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in Equatorial
Guinea for an official visit. The purpose of the visit was to
establish relations between Armenia and Equatorial Guinea in various
areas, as well as to discuss the fate of the six Armenian pilots, who
have been imprisoned there since March 8, 2004. The Armenian
delegation included Sergei Manaserian, Armenia’s Ambassador to
Bulgaria, formerly Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt. Ambassador
Manaserian has been engaged in the case of the Armenian pilots since
the beginning and has visited Equatorial Guinea several times.

Minister Oskanian held several meetings with high-level officials, in
the capital, Malabo. During his meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Equatorial Guinea, Minister Oskanian discussed prospects for the
future development of bilateral relations in several fields, including
cooperation in international organizations and in education. The sides
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on holding talks between the two
ministries. They also agreed to exchange ambassadors in the near
future.

Minister Oskanian met also with Miguel Abia Biteo Borico, Equatorial
Guinea’s Prime Minister and with State Prosecutor Jose Olo Obono.
They discussed several issues as well as the Armenian pilots. The
sides exchanged their views on signing a bilateral agreement on
extradition which would help to regulate processes surrounding this
difficult issue.

During his visit to Malabo, Armenia’s foreign minister was able to
meet with the pilots, as well.