ARMENIA: FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN PAYS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO SWEDEN

ISRIA
_swed.html
Nov 12 2008
DC

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.