PETER SEMNEBY AND VARTAN OSKANIAN EXCHANGE ESTIMATIONS ON LAST DEVELOPMENTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 18, RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian received EU Special Representative to South Caucasus
Peter Semneby who had arrived in Armenia within the framework of the
regional visit.

During the meeting, the sides discussed EU-Armenia relations touching
upon the fulfilment of the Actions Plan signed within the framework
of the European Neighborhood Policy. The interlocutors also touched
upon the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia attaching
importance to their holding in correspondence with the international
standards. The Minister reaffirmed the position of RA authorities on
inviting international observers in the future. During the meeting,
they exchanged thoughts about Armenia’s relations with neighboring
countries in the light of Minister Oskanian’s visit to Iran on
December 17.

Touching upon Armenian-Turkish relations, P.Semneby mentioned EU’s
position citing the European Commission’s report on Turkey’s progress
on its way to membership to European Union in November 2006, which,
in particular, touches upon the necessity to open borders with
Armenia. The EU Special Representative spoke about his meeting with
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian held the day before, then V.Oskanian
and P.Semneby exchanged estimations about the last developments in
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. Heike Peitsch, Ambassador
of Germany assuming EU chairmanship starting 2007 January 1 also took
part in the meeting.