MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: press@mfa.am

Forei gn Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian pays an official visit to
Sweden

On November 7-8, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian had meetings
in Stockholm, where he arrived by the invitation of Carl Bildt, Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
The first meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister was with Carl Bildt, his
Swedish counterpart and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe.
The agenda of the negotiations between Foreign Minister of Armenia and
Sweden included wide range of issues concerning Armenian-Swedish bilateral
relations, Armenia-European Union cooperation, regional and international
issues.
Touching upon Armenian-Swedish bilateral relations Minister Nalbandian
mentioned that Armenia is interested in the development of cooperation with
Sweden and solid precondition for that have already been created.
In the course of the meeting Ministers Nalbandian and Bildt had a detailed
discussion on issues concerning the cooperation between Armenia-European
Union and expressed mutual satisfaction by the process of implementation of
European Neighbourhood Policy Action plan. Edward Nalbandian presented his
Swedish counterpart the results of President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to
Brussels and meetings with EU leadership.
Ministers discussed Polish-Swedish proposal for Eastern Partnership, and in
that regard Edward Nalbandian mentioned that the Armenian side positively
assesses the initiative and expects the elaboration of the suggestions by
the European Commission to hold discussions on that issue with partner
countries and European structures in near future.
In his turn Minister Bildt mentioned that Polish-Swedish proposal enjoys EU
support and in future essential discussions will be held. He also told that
during Swedish Presidency in the EU (second half of 2009) serious attention
will be paid to the relations with South Caucasus countries. Minister Bildt
accepted Armenian Foreign Minister’s invitation to visit Armenia and
announced that he would visit Yerevan before assumption of EU Presidency.
On Swedish Foreign Minister’s request Edward Nalbandian presented Artsakh
(Nagorno Karabakh) peace process and expressed hope that the declaration
signed by Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia in Moscow will create
an opportunity to activate negotiations and fix progress.
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Sweden exchanged ideas on the possibilities
of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
The recent events around South Ossetia were also discussed by the Ministers.
The meeting between Ministers was followed by press conference.
Afterwards signing ceremony of the Readmission Agreement between Republic of
Armenia and the Kingdom of Sweden took place.
In the noon Swedish foreign minister hosted official lunch in honour of his
Armenian counterpart.
In the second part of the day Edward Nalbandian made a speech on Armenian
foreign policy at the Institute for Security and Development Policy. Swedish
Government officials, representatives of diplomatic corps, scientific
centres and universities, political analysts and journalists attended the
speech. Minister’s speech was followed by a lively answer-question on
Armenian foreign policy.
In addition to political agenda, Minister Nalbandian’s had number of
meetings with the representatives of Swedish companies.
In the course of the meeting with Ulf Berg, Chairman of Swedish Trade
Council, Edward Nalbandian presented the Government steps aimed at the
development of Armenian economy, investment opportunities and its
priorities. They discussed the possibilities to organize Armenian-Swedish
business forum, as well as mutual visits of officials of the Government’s
economic block.
They have exchanged ideas on world financial crisis and the ways to overcome
it.
Edward Nalbandian also visited the Headquarters of Ericsson Corporation,
where he met with Bjorn Hemstad, Chairman of Ericsson’s Eastern Europe
region. At the meeting Minister Nalbandian got acquainted to the company’s
activity and perspective projects. Minister expressed satisfaction for the
effective cooperation of Ericsson with Armenian mobile phone operators. The
talks were focused on the possibilities for enlargement of cooperation
between Armenian companies and Ericsson.
In Stockholm Edward Nalbandian also met with the leadership of Nasdaq OMX
financial group – manager of Armenian Stock exchange, and discussed the
issues concerning the activity of the company in Armenia.
On November 7 in the evening Edward Nalbandian met with the representatives
of Armenian community in Sweden. At the meeting which passed in warm
atmosphere, Minister Nalbandian presented foreign policy of Armenia,
perspectives of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) conflicts settlement, steps aimed
at the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. Speaking on
Armenia-Diaspora relations, Minister Nalbandian mentioned that Armenian
authorities intend to give a new stimulus to the cooperation with Diaspora
and the establishment of the Ministry of Diaspora is one of the steps toward
that goal.
During his stay in Stockholm Edward Nalbandian gave a broad interview to the
Swedish TV.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress