MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: press@mfa.am

PRESS RELEASE

16-03-2006

Minister Oskanian Receives Daniel Fried,
US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs

On March 16, Minister Oskanian received Daniel Fried, US Assistant
Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, and Steven Mann, US
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group who accompanied the Secretary on
his regional visit.

During the meeting, the three exchanged views on a number of regional
and bilateral issues of mutual interest.

They also focused on energy security issues in the region, and
in Armenia specifically, and presented their approaches. In this
respect, everyone agreed that a resolution of the conflicts in the
South Caucasus will facilitate access to resources.

Further, the Minister, the Secretary and the OSCE Co-Chair discussed
the present situation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
and exchanged views on measures to be taken to continue negotiations
in the framework of the Prague Process.

They also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations, specifically opening
the border and utilizing communication and transportation routes.

During the meeting, Minister Oskanian and his guests spoke about the
Millennium Challenge Compact, as well as the processes of democratic
development in Armenia.

Daniel Fried, of Washington, DC, began his career with the Foreign
Service in 1977. He served in the Economic Bureau of the State
Department from 1977 to 1979; at the U.S. Consulate General in
then-Leningrad from 1980 to 1981; as Political Officer in the
U.S. Embassy in Belgrade from 1982 to 1985. He was Ambassador
to Poland from November 1997 until May 2000. Ambassador Fried was
Principal Deputy Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the New
Independent States from May 2000 until January 2001. Since January 22,
2001, Ambassador Fried served as Special Assistant to the President
and Senior Director for European and Eurasian Affairs at the National
Security Council.