VARDAN OSKANIAN AND CONDOLEEZZA RICE DISCUSSED KARABAGH SETTLEMENT’S PERSPECTIVES

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 6 2007

March 5 RA FM Vardan Oskanian, who is currently in the U. S. with a
working visit, met with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA MFA Press Office,
in the course of the meeting the parties had discussed the issues
referring to Armenia-U.S. relations. The interlocutors mentioned the
importance of "Millennium Challenges" program declared by the United
States government within the frames of implementation of the programs
targeted at decreasing the level of poverty in RA rural regions.

Oskanian and Rice also discussed elections to National Assembly to
be held in RA May 12, noting the importance to conduct them in line
with the international standards.

RA FM and the U. S. Secretary of State considered regional
issues, current situation in Armenian-Turkish relations and the
U. S. initiatives for their normalization.

Vardan Oskanian and Condoleezza Rice exchanged opinions concerning
current stage and perspectives of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict
settlement.

The second part of the day Armenia’s Foreign Minister held meetings
at the U. S. Congress.