ARMENPRESS
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HAS FIRST MEETING WITH
FRENCH COUNTERPART
YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign
minister Edward Nalbandian had May 5 his first
official meeting with French opposite number, Bernard
Kouchner, in Paris, which the foreign ministry in
Yerevan said proceeded in `a warm atmosphere.’
Kouchner was said to congratulate Nalbandian on his
appointment as foreign minister of Armenia and
commended his contribution to depending of French
Armenian partnership. He also expressed confidence
that Edward Nalbandian as foreign minister will
continue to help deepen French-Armenian relationships.
Both ministers emphasized dialogue and mutual
understanding between leaders of France and Armenia.
They expressed readiness to make every effort to
ensure close cooperation between the two nations.
Edward Nalbandian spoke about key priorities of the
new coalition Armenian government formed after the
presidential election. He also conveyed the opinions
of Armenia’s leadership on regional issues and ways to
settle its conflicts.
Nalbandian reconfirmed Armenia’s willingness to
continue talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue based n
a package of proposals designed by the OSCE Minsk
Group. He appreciated highly the cochairmen’s work.
Bernard Kouchner said France will continue to
support all efforts of the Minsk Group. He said France
assumes EU’s chairmanship in July and in this context
he referred to Armenia-EU partnership.
Speaking later to journalists Edward Nalbandian
said there is a clear demand now to reaffirm that
there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of
the conflict. He said he will discuss this with Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov when he meets with in
Strasbourg.