PRESS RELEASE
Minister Oskanian Participated in "Working Together – Strengthening the
European Neighbourhood Policy" conference in Brussels
On September 3, 2007, Foreign Minister Oskanian took part in the first
ministerial level meeting on the European Union’s Neighborhood Policy.
Entitled "Working Together – Strengthening the European Neighbourhood
Policy," the conference lasted all day and explored means of strengthening
the program and means of implementation.
The conference was opened by Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European
Commission. Luis Amado, Foreign Minister of Portugal and the current EU
President also spoke. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for
External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy offered opening remarks
and chaired the conference.
The agenda included a ministerial-level morning session, which focused
particularly on the goals of the ENP, the opportunities it offers member
countries who wish to engage in integrational processes including
opportunities for trade and visa regime liberalization, as well as
educational exchange, and means of cooperation on the challenges of climate
change and energy security. Minister Oskanian was among the keynote speakers
of the conference. He spoke about the goals of the ENP as the extension of
the original vision of the European Union, aimed at securing peace and
prosperity in the region and the world, through economic and political
associations and strengthening of overlapping interests. [for the text of
the statement, please see ]
In the margins of the conference, Minister Oskanian held bilateral meetings
with the foreign ministers of Tunisia, Estonia, Cyprus and the Czech
Republic.
On the eve of the conference, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the East
European countries including Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Discussion
focused on ENP implemetation and opportunities for cooperation within the
European Neighborhood Policy.
On September 4, Minister Oskanian will meet the Secretary General of NATO,
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.