FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN CONCLUDES WASHINGTON VISIT

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[06:43 pm] 06 March, 2007

Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, spent Monday March 5 in
Washington, visiting with members of the US administration as well
as US congressmen.

His first meeting was with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, with
whom the Minister discussed various items on the Armenia-US agenda,
including trade, the Millennium Challenge program, democratic and
economic reforms, and US assistance to Armenia.

The two also discussed the upcoming Parliamentary election. The
Secretary made clear that the US expects that the elections will be
conducted according to international norms and standards.

The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary that Armenia understands
the significance of the upcoming parliamentary elections, within the
context of Armenia’s internal political development, as well as an
indication of the maturity of democratic processes within Armenia,
and the impact of the conduct of the elections on various assistance
programs with the US and the EU.

Minister Oskanian briefed the Secretary on the current status of the
Nagorno Karabakh resolution process, as well as on Armenia’s relations
with Turkey. On Nagorno Karabakh, the Minister reiterated Armenia’s
firm commitment to the principles currently being negotiated, and
expressed concerns that there may be attempts to deviate from this
process, both in content and in procedure.

Regarding the continuing absence of relations with Turkey, the
Minister repeated Armenia’s readiness to establish relations with
Turkey, without preconditions of any sort. The Minister reiterated
that open borders would greatly affect the environment in the region,
and spur regional cooperation and growth.

The two also discussed the pending Genocide resolution in the US
Congress.

Following the meeting with the Secretary, Minister Oskanian met with
US Assistant Undersecretary of State and US Minsk Group co-chair Matt
Bryza. The two discussed Nagorno Karabakh and the upcoming meeting
of the ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in Geneva, on March 14,
together with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group.

Later in the day, with the co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian
Caucus, Minister Oskanian outlined the broad US-Armenia agenda,
and ways in which Congress can play a role.

During the meeting, the Genocide issue was also discussed. In referring
to the pending Genocide reaffirmation resolution, the Minister
explained, "The Armenian government, in contrast to the leadership in
Ankara, does not seek to lecture elected American officials on this
core human rights issue. Sadly, the Turkish government continues to
export its policy of genocide denial, seeking to impose upon the US and
other nations the very intolerance that inspired Section 301 and led
to the murder of journalist Hrant Dink. This should not be tolerated
by any individual or any country. The Armenian government has faith
in the American democratic process and respects the integrity of US
Congressional decision-making."

During his visit, the Minister also met with representatives of
Armenian advocacy groups in Washington and shared thoughts on current
issues.