ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HIS SERBIAN AND LATVIAN COUNTERPARTS, U.S. STATE SECRETARY AND DELIVERS SPEECH IN FRONT OF AMERICAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
ARMENPRESS
September 25, 2008
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
who is New York to participate in the 63d session of the UN General
Assembly, had a number of bilateral meetings on September 24.
During the meeting with his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic, the
sides underscored the necessity of further development of political,
economic and cultural relations between Armenia and Serbia. The two
presidents pointed out that there exists enough potential and concrete
steps are necessary for its effective usage.
Serzh Sargsyan and Boris Tadic pointed out that in spite of
the geographic distance Armenian and Serbian peoples have many
historic-cultural similarities and warm attitude towards each other.
With the request of the Serbian president, Serzh Sargsyan
presented Armenia’s approaches towards Karabakh conflict regulation,
Armenian-Turkish relations and recent developments in the region. Serzh
Sargsyan and Boris Tadic agreed that peaceful regulation of all the
conflicts is the way to progress and development of the region. The
Serbian president also pointed out the role of the Serbian-Armenian
community in further development of bilateral relations. Boris Tadic
also invited Serzh Sargsyan to pay visit to Belgrade.
On the same day Serzh Sargsyan met with his Latvian counterpart Valdis
Zatlers. The two presidents said they are pleased with the level of
relations between Armenia and Latvia, underscored the necessity of
their further development.
Serzh Sargsyan and Valdis Zatlers also underscored cooperation within
the framework of EU’s New Neighborhood policy. In this respect Latvian
president expressed readiness of his country to support Armenia in
European integration process. The two presidents also referred to a
number of regional issues. Valdis Zatlers invited Armenian president
to visit Riga.
Afterwards Armenian President visited New York’s "Metropolitan" museum.
On the second part of the day Armenian President received U.S. State
Secretary Condoleezza Rice. During the meeting the sides discussed
a wide-range of issues on Armenian-U.S. relations, regional
developments. Serzh Sargsyan thanked the U.S. government for the
support provided to Armenia. In response, the secretary of state
pointed out that she has registered progress in Armenia’s political
reforms which is a good basis for continuing the support to Armenia.
The sides also referred to the process of negotiations over Nagorno
Karabakh conflict regulation. Armenian president reiterated
Armenia’s readiness to solve the conflict peacefully, through
negotiations. Condoleezza Rice underscored the peaceful regulation
of the conflict and pointed out that such solution of the conflict
will promote the establishment of peace and cooperation in the region.
The state secretary also congratulated the Armenian president for his
initiative directed towards the regulation of relations with Turkey
and expressed hope that the visit of the Turkish president to Armenia
will be a beginning of a future cooperation.
Late in the evening of September 24, Armenian president was present at
a reception organized on his honor where he delivered a speech. More
than 700 representatives of the American Armenian community were
present at the event.