ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAKES SPEECH AT FORUM IN BLED

Noyan Tapan
Aug 27 2007

BLED, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. At the invitation of the foreign
minister of Slovenia Dimitri Rupel, the Armenian foreign minister
Vartan Oskanian took part in the forum held in the city of Bled on
August 26-27. According to a press release submitted to NT by the RA
MFA Press and Information Department, among forum participants were
representatives of the European Union, high-ranking officials from
European, Caucasian and Central Asian countries.

V. Oskanian made a speech at the round table "The Economic and
Political Directions of the South Caucasus and Central Europe: the
Role of the EU, and the OSCE". His speech concerned general positive
developments in the economy, whose continuation will become a stimulus
for positive developments in the political sphere.

Speaking about the region’s development, the Armenian foreign minister
underlined the importance of focusing on sustainable economic
development problems. He called on the international community to
view the region not only from the viewpoint of oil and gas export
but also as a community with its own powerful human resources which
should be used and encouraged.

V. Oskanian pointed out that European structures greatly assisted with
democratization of the newly independed states, and the continuous
involvement of these structures can be conducive to the formation of
necessary institutions and to comprehensive economic growth.