RESULTS OF ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER’S MEETINGS WITHIN THE FRAMES OF OSCE INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING

ArmInfo
2009-06-29 10:35:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian participated
in the OSCE Informal Ministerial Meeting on June 28 on Corfu,
the Greek island. The meeting was devoted to security problems in
Europe. The informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers was hosted by
the Greek Chairmanship and involved the heads of the foreign relations
departments of 45 states, high-ranking officials of CSTO, CIS, EU,
NATO and OSCE.

Armenian Foreign Ministry reported Edward Nalbandian as presenting in
his speech Armenia’s approach to security provision to Europe. ‘The
past arrangements on security were connected with the reality that
has changed now. It is time to develop a new more effective system of
EuroAtlantic security, probably, a document on European security that
will exactly say that general security is infrangible and that states
must not build their security at the expense of others, as well as
it is impossible to recognize the rights of certain states denying
the rights others when there is no place for force or a threat of
its application, where all the states unite their efforts to fight
threats. In case of these components, we will be able to effective
counteract he existing challenges’, Nalbandian said.

As part of the meeting, E. Nalbandian participated also in the CSTO
Ministerial Meeting and some others. During his meeting with Danish
Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller, E. Nalbandian discussed the ways
of developing the bilateral political and economic relations. The
parties exchanged opinions on the security problems in the South
Caucasus. Accepting the proposal of the Armenian minister to visit
Armenia, Per Stig Moller expressed an intention to visit the country
in the autumn of the current year.

Talking to his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy Rey Edward Nalbandian
touched upon the enhancement of the bilateral relations. The Swiss
minister said that a decision has been made to open a diplomatic
representation in Yerevan.

Edward Nalbandian also met with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
James B. Steinberg. Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary for Bureau
of European and Eurasian Affairs was present at the meeting. The
parties discussed various aspects of Armenian-American relations and
the possibility of boosting the cooperation, as well as a number of
international and regional issues.

Afterwards, Edward Nalbadnian and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy had a detailed discussion on various spheres of Armenia-
EU cooperation. At the request of the Commissioner, the minister
presented the current stage of the Karabakh conflict’s settlement.

During his meeting with Foreign Minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon
the Armenian minister discussed the possibilities of bilateral
cooperation and extension of the contractual basis. The parties
touched upon the possibilities of cooperation within the frames of
international organizations.

E. Nalbandian met also with his Irish counterpart Michael Martin
and discussed activation and strengthening of the bilateral
relations. Parties also discussed joint steps to develop the political
dialogue, economic cooperation and cultural ties.