FOREIGN MINISTER OF NETHERLANDS HOPES THAT COMING ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
TO CORRESPOND TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

AMSTERDAM, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Forein Minister Vartan Oskanian
who is on a working visit to Netherlands had a meeting on January 30
with Bernard Bot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Netherlans. Touching upon the already rather extensive agenda of the
two country’s political and economic relations, Bernard Bot stated
that the coming elections in Armenia will correspond to the
international standards what will give possibilities to widen the
bilateral cooperation.

V.Oskanian emphasized that Armenia is grateful to Netherlans for the
assistance shown to Armenia during years, particularly, with the help
of international financial structures and bilateral programs. Those
programs (PSOM, ORET, MATRA) being implemented by Netherlands were
separated from the latters, which are called to assist formation and
economic development of the civil society. V.Oskanian mentioned that
Armenia is interested in deepening bilateral relations and cooperation
with Netherlands in all the spheres and expressed intension of
official Yerevan to open the Consulate to Holland soon.

Issues of the Eurointegration of Armenia were discussed during the
meeting, considering important the involvement of Netherlands in the
process of implementation of the actions plan signed within the
framework of the EU Neighbourhood Policy, especially in the sphere of
economy and within the framework of the regional
cooperation. V.Oskanian emphasized that the European direction is one
of the priorities of the foreign policy of Armenia and Armenia is
decisive to make use of all the possibilities given by the actions
plan to more deepen the reforms.

The sides exchanged opinions concerning the regional problems,
particularly stopping on the recent developments of the
Armenian-Turkish relations. The necessity of fixing a progress in the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue was emphasized, in what the Government of
Netherlands intends to make its contributio. An exchange of opinion
took place concerning the recent developments of the negotiation
process on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, V.Oskanian’s
meeting with heads of Armenian organizations of Holland took place in
the second half of the day. The Minister presented in his speech the
process of reforms of Armenia, the process of negotiations on the NKR
process, issues relating to implementation of rural programs being the
pivot of the 2006 Armenia-Diaspora conference.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress