RA PRESIDENT HAS A NUMBER OF BILATERAL MEETINGS WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT

Noyan Tapan
May 8, 2009

PRAGUE, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Summit held in Prague, on May 7, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan had bilateral meetings with French Prime Minister Francois
Fillon, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, European Commissioner
for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, as well as Great Britain’s Foreign Minister David
Miliband. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA President’s
Press Office.

During the meeting with the French Prime Minister the interlocutors
expressed satisfaction that the Armenian-French friendly relations
develop successfully in economic, as well as humanitarian and other
spheres. The RA President expressed confidence that new cooperation
initiatives in economic sphere, French Orange company’s entrance to the
telecommunication sphere will give a new quality to Armenian-French
economic partnership. At the meeting both sides expressed readiness
to deepen Armenian-French friendship.

At French Prime Minister’s request S. Sargsyan presented the process
of Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and negotiations process
of Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement. Touching upon the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement process, he said that problem’s pivotal issue is
the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status, and the negotiations process
proceeding within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and the
main principles of settlement being at the negotiations table give a
possibility to move forward. S. Sargsyan emphasized that Armenia is
ready for a conflict settlement that will lead to long-term peace. The
French Prime Minister, in his turn, expressed readiness to support
the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement process. F. Fillon expressed
support to the Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and efforts aimed
at normalizing the relations between the two countries.

During the meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the world
economic crisis impact on the two countries’ economies, as well
as steps undertaken in the direction of resisting the crisis and
tendencies recorded in world economy.

During the meeting with Great Britain’s Foreign Minister the
interlocutors attached importance to further development of
cooperation between Armenia and Great Britain in both bilateral and
many-sided formats and fulfillment of new initiatives. S. Sargsyan
and David Miliband exchanged thoughts over issues regarding
provision of security, peace, and stability in the South Caucasian
region. D. Miliband said that Great Britain supports peaceful
settlement of all problems and strengthening of peace in the South
Caucasian region.

During the meetings with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Summit the latters welcomed efforts aimed at normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed readiness to support that
process as far as possible.