RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REAFFIRMS ARMENIA’S READINESS FOR
REGULATING NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS

PARIS, MAY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The first official meeting between Eduard
Nalbandian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia,
and Bernard Kouchner, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of
France, was held in Paris on May 5. Bilateral, regional, as well as
issues of international mutual interest were discussed during the
meeting.

Eduard Nalbandian introduced the viewpoints of the leadership of
Armenia on the provision of regional security, the regulation of the
existing conflicts and the development of cooperation. In this respect
special attention was paid to issues connected with the current process
and prospects of the negotiations on the regulation of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Eduard Nalbandian stated about the readiness of
Armenia for continuing the negotiations on the basis of the suggestions
of the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, highly appreciating the
efforts of the mediators in the direction of the conflict regulation.

Bernard Kouchner made assertions that his country will continue its
efforts in the OSCE Minsk Group in the direction of finding ways for
the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem.

After the second half of the current year under the light of the
presidency of France in EU the Ministers touched upon issues on more
deepening the cooperation with Armenia within the frameworks of the EU
Neighbourhood Policy.

The meeting was followed by a press conference of the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia and France.

Reaffirming the readiness of Armenia for regulating the Nagorno
Karabakh issue through peaceful negotiations, Eduard Nalbandian stated:
"Today there is a precise demand for creating constructive surroundings
for negotiations and establishing mutual confidence between the
parties. Today there is a precise demand for reaffirming that there is
no alternative for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue through
peaceful negotiations. Tomorrow I will meet with my colleague in
Strasburg and I hope that we will continue the constructive dialogue
for finding ways for the solution of the issue with the help of
mediators."

In connection with the regulation of the relations with Turkey, the RA
Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the current generation of the
two peoples has received a heavy inheritance from the past and that the
political leaders should make compromising steps with all
responsibility in order to turn that black page. "Armenia in its part
is ready, we suggest reestablishing relations without any preconditions
and this will be in the interest of the whole region, in the interest
of our peoples," Eduard Nalbandian said.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press and
Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eduard
Nalbandian left for Strasburg on the same evening to take part in the
118th session of the CE Ministers’ Committee.

The meetings of the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs with Elmar
Mamedyarov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, as well as
the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE MInsk Group are scheduled for May 6 and
will finish late in the evening.