ARMENIAN, BUNDESTAG PRESIDENTS DISCUSS RELATIONS

Public Television, Armenia
Nov 16 2006

[Presenter] The Armenian and Bundestag presidents took part in the
opening ceremony of the new building of the Armenian embassy in
Berlin’s Charlottenburg district.

President Robert Kocharyan and President of the Bundestag Norbert
Lammert held a meeting at the new Armenian new embassy in Germany
and discussed the development of Armenian-German relations.

[Correspondent reporting from Berlin] The new building of the Armenian
embassy in Germany was opened in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district.

President Robert Kocharyan’s meeting with President of the Bundestag
Norbert Lammert at the embassy was symbolic. The Armenian president
said that the opening of the embassy building reflects the development
of Armenian-German relations, which has been noticeable in the last
few years. Robert Kocharyan noted that bilateral economic and political
relations are deepening and assistance programmes are acquiring a new
quantitative nature. The Armenian president said that there were no
relations a few years ago. Today Armenia seriously intends to develop
relations with Germany.

Germany’s forthcoming presidency of the European Union [EU] will
have a positive influence on these relations. Germany attaches
great importance to the integration of the South Caucasus within the
framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The president of the Bundestag described as symbolic the opening of
the new building of the Armenian embassy in Germany two days after
the signing of Armenia’s Action Plan in Brussels. Armenia opens the
embassy in Germany which will chair the EU from 1 January 2007.

After the meeting, Robert Kocharyan and Norbert Lammert took part in
the opening ceremony of the embassy.

[Norbert Lammert, speaking in German with an Armenian voice-over]
The opening of the embassy symbolizes the level of Armenian-German
relations. These relations have been developing between the
governments. But it is necessary to develop interparliamentary
relations as well.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan] Armenia deserves to have
an embassy building in Germany. Every time we open an Armenian embassy
abroad, we confirm our presence and Armenia’s independence.

In 15 years of independence, Armenia has opened embassies in more that
35 countries and this is the best manifestation of our independence.

[Correspondent] Representatives of Germany’s Armenian community,
diplomats, members of the Armenian and German governments took part
in the opening ceremony.