2008 PROGRAM OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRIES SIGNED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 5, 2007

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian, who is on a working visit to Moscow, met with the Russian
foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on December 5. During the meeting,
the interlocutors stated that the sides’ positions on many issues on
the foreign political agenda coincide, and there are a lot of specific
issues that make it necessary to expand the dialog.

The sides positively assessed the cooperation of Armenia and Russia in
international organizations, particularly, some bilateral initiatives
within the framework of the UN. The interlocutors also discussed
some processes underway in international organizations, addressing
the consequences of discontinuing Russia’s membership of the Treaty
on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the OSCE reforms and the
settlement of the Kosovo problem.

The ministers underlined the importance of further cooperation of
the two countries within the framework of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization in terms of ensuring peace in the region. They
also spoke about the plans of Armenia as a country to assume the
chairmanship of this organization in 2008.

The sides discussed problems of regional security, including bilateral
Armenian-Russian relations in the context of latest developments
regarding the relations between Russia and Georgia. They also addressed
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, exchanged ideas about the possible ways
of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

NT was informed by the RA MFA Press and Information Department that
following the meeting, V. Oskanian and S. Lavrov signed the 2008
program of interdepartmental consultations between the Armenian and
Russian foreign ministries.