Armenian minister discusses regional and bilateral relations with top
Syrian officials

AP Worldstream; Apr 08, 2006

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Saturday discussed
bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East with top
Syrian officials, the state-run news agency reported.

An estimated 100,000 Armenians live in Syria. They moved to this Arab
country early last century after being deported by Turkey.

In the first meeting, Oskanian and President Bashar Assad discussed
the “historical relations” between the two countries along with
developments in the region, SANA said.

Later, the Armenian spoke with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Moallem,
about ways to develop bilateral relations and regional issues of
mutual interest, the agency said.

Oskanian told reporters after meeting Moallem that they spoke about
regional problems. He did not elaborate.

Oskanian’s three-day visit ends Sunday.