KARABAKH CONFLICT PROBLEM MAINLY DISCUSSED AT VARTAN OSKANIAN’S MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian, participating in the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Council
sitting in Brussels had a number of bilateral meetings on December 4
and 5. At the meeting with Daniel Fried, the U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State, the interlocutors discussed a wide circle of issues on
bilateral cooperation. Issues relating to development of democracy
in Armenia, the coming elections were also discussed.

The sides agreed that proper organization and holding of
the parliamentary elections will support deepening of the
Armenia-U.S. cooperation and implementation of bilateral programs. At
the meeting in which Matthew Bryza, the Deputy Assistant of State
took part, it was separately spoken about the recent developments of
the negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The
interlocutors also touched upon the regional issues, possibilities
of settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Jean Asselborn,
the Foreign Minister of Luxemburg was the RA Foreign Minister’s next
interlocutor. At the latter’s request, Minister Oskanian presented
results of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents’ meeting taken
lace in Minsk, emphasizing the side’s readiness to continue the
negotiations at the Foreign Ministers’ level. The interlocutors
emphasized activization of the bilateral cooperation within the
framework of the Armenia-EU Actions Plan. It was mentioned that
the latter gives wide possibility for promoting mutually beneficial
cooperation in different spheres.

The European theme was the pivotal one during the conversation with
Urmas Paet, the Foreign Minister of Estonia. The Ministers agreed
to touch upon practical steps of the bilateral cooperation during
the Armenian Foreign Minister’s official visit to be paid to Tallinn
which will be scheduled for the first quarter of 2007. Possibilities
of bilateral visits were spoken about during the meeting with Noel
Treacy, the Ireland State Minister for European Issues.

Relations with Armenia with Ireland, the leader of democracy on the
European continent are still at the embryonic stage and agreements
to widen the legal-contractual field and assists business contacts
reached during the conversation are addressed to its change. By the
Ireland Foreign Minister’s invitation, Armenia Foreign Minister’s
visit is scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.

Bilateral relations and initiatives to be moved forward during the
Spain chairmanship were touched upon at the meeting with Bernardo Leon,
the Spain State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, undertaking the OSCE
chairmanship in 2007.

The State Secretary expressed his country’s readiness to assist as
much as possible peaceful settlement of conflicts existing in the
region, particularly, in the direction of making additional efforts
in the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

For this purpose, the Spanish Foreign Minister’s visit to the region is
scheduled for February of the next year. Minister Oskanian presented
in his turn the recent developments and existing possibilities to fix
progress in the NKR peaceful process. The Spanish side stated about
its intention to open the Embassy in Armenia. The EU chairmanship will
pass from Germany to Portugal in the second half of 2007. Prospects
of development of the cooperation and bilateral relations of Armenia
with the EU within the framework of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy
were discussed at the meeting with Manuel Lobo Antunes, the State
Minister for European Issues of Portugal. Issues relating to the
OSCE reforms and Nagorno Karabakh problem were discussed at the
meeting of Vartan Oskanian and OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de
Brichambeau. At the end of the day, the Armenian Foreign Minister
met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen. The state created after
the RA and Azerbaijani Presidents’ last meeting was estimated, coming
events were discussed. The text of the statement on Nagorno Karabakh
adopted on December 5 by the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Council was also
worked out and given its final appearance at the meeting. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, Minister Oskanian met on December 5 with Dr.Kinga Goncz,
the Foreign Minister of Hungary. The sides appreciated the bilateral
relations, agreeing to implement concrete programs for their future
development. The Foreign Minister of Hungary emphasized its country’s
readiness to support efforts of Germany undertaking the EU chairmanship
to activize the EU cooperation with the South Caucasian countries. He
expressed intention to visit Armenia in future. At the meeting with
Goran Lennmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Speaker, opinions
were exchanged concerning prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. Minister Oskanian’s last meeting was with Christian
Strohal, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR). The interlocutors discussed organization issues relating to
the coming elections in Armenia as well Mr.Strohal’s coming visit to
Armenia and possibilities of cooperation with Armenia of the structure
headed by him. In the second half of the day the RA Foreign Minister
left for Antwerp where Minister Oskanian’s speech at the Antwerp
Lessius University is envisaged. The delegation headed by Minister
Oskanian was to leave for Strasbourg late in the evening where meetings
with Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
Mateo Sorinas, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe, and the members of the group (Ago’s group)
observing implementation of Armenia’s obligations of the Council of
Europe Ministers’ Council.