HUNGARIAN FM SIGNS CO-OP ACCORD WITH ARMENIAN LEADERS

Hungarian News Agency
November 17, 2008 Monday
MTI

Yerevan, November 17 (MTI) – Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz
and Armenian leaders held talks on expanding bilateral ties and
intensifying economic relations, and signed a framework agreement on
inter-ministry cooperation in Yerevan on Monday.

Armenia is the first leg of the minister’s three-nation tour, which
will also take her to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Goncz held talks with President Serzh Sargsian, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsian, Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsian.

Speaking to MTI by phone, Goncz called it important for Hungary to
maintain balanced and close relations with all three countries in
the Caucasian region. The minister noted that she had attended the
opening of the Hungarian Embassy in Tbilisi in late October and that
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany had taken part in an energy summit
in Baku last week.

Hungary sees Armenia as a friend and is endeavouring to translate
this into practical cooperation in multiple fields, she said.

Goncz appreciated Armenia’s economic growth and emphasised the need
to intensify bilateral economic cooperation.

Mapping business opportunities was a key objective of the visit. Goncz
said Hungary could transfer farming, health, IT and other technologies
to Armenia and help coordinate Armenia’s involvement in EU programmes.

The minister said the two countries should draft agreements on economic
cooperation, investment protection, air transport and the elimination
of dual taxation.

The issue of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani officer who murdered his
Armenian classmate during a NATO language course in Budapest four
years ago, was also raised. The Armenian negotiators asked Hungary
not to extradite him to Azerbaijan. Goncz said extraditing Safirov
was an option, not an obligation for Hungary, which would take all
circumstances into account before making a decision.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress