RA FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF LITHUANIA IN VILNIUS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 19, 2008

VILNIUS, NOVEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of his
official visit to the Baltic countries RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian met with President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus on November
18 in Vilnius. The latter said that the Lithuanian people has always
had a special positive attitude to Armenia and the Armenian people,
to which the mutual sympathy of the two peoples greatly contributed.

E. Nalbandian, in his turn, emphasized that Armenia attaches
importance to all-round development of bilateral relations with
Lithuania, many-sided cooperation within the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy and EU Eastern Partnership initiative.

During the meeting the interlocutors in detail discussed possibilities
of further expansion of cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania in
different spheres. V. Adamkus and E. Nalbandian also discussed the
process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement. At V. Adamkus’ request the
RA Foreign Minister presented the possibilities of normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, the same day E. Nalbandian met with Foreign
Minister of Lithuania Petras Vaytekunas.

E. Nalbandian emphasized that Armenia attaches importance to
development of friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with
Lithuania, and the decision to found an Embassy of RA in Vilnius next
year is its evidence.

The Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction with the high
level of political dialogue of the two countries and the current
legal-contractual field, which is a serious ground for deepening the
bilateral relations. They emphasized the necessity to undertake steps
ensuring development of trade and economic relations.

The interlocutors in detail discussed Armenia-European Union relations
and steps to be undertaken for the purpose of establishing closer
cooperation in that context. In that respect E. Nalbandian attached
importance to the circumstance of Lithuania’s numbering the relations
with the South Caucasian countries among its foreign political
priorities.

Presenting the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process at P.

Vaytekunas’ request, E. Nalbandian attached importance to continuation
of negotiations according to the spirit of Maindorf Declaration signed
by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia on November 2.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Lithuania also exchanged thoughts
over possibilities of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The steps to be undertaken in the direction of making more active
trade and economic relations were discussed in detail and an agreement
was reached to contribute to establishment of direct contacts between
businessmen of the two countries.

The possibility of establishment of cooperation between Vilnius
University founded in 1579 and considered one of the first ones in
Eastern Europe and Yerevan State University were discussed during
the meeting with University Rector Benedictas Juodka.

Then E. Nalbandian gave a lecture on the subject Security in the
South Caucasus: the Armenian Prospect at University’s Department
of International Relations and Political Science. Touching upon
the steps undertaken by Armenia in the direction of ensuring peace
and security in the region, the RA Foreign Minister presented the
latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations
emphasizing that the misrepresented commentaries upon Maindorf
Declaration voiced in Azerbaijan do not contribute to fulfillment
of the principles stipulated by the document, in particular, in the
respect of means of strengthening confidence.

The same day E. Nalbandian met with representatives of the
Armenian community of Lithuania. The RA Foreign Minister told the
Armenians of Lithuania that the Armenian authorities intend to raise
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation to a new level in the respect of quality,
and the creation of the Ministry of Diaspora in the Homeland pursues
the very purpose.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit Latvia on
November 19.