MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: press@mfa.am

PRESS RELEASE

Foreign Minister of Armenia continues his meetings in New York

On September 26, Foreign Minister of Armenia who is in New York with a
working visit participated in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization’s member states.

Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states discussed several issues
of the agenda – particularly, the coordination of foreign policy
within the UN and other international structures, European and
international security, as well as the issues concerning the UN
General Assembly’s agenda.

On the same day, Edward Nalbandian had meetings with Foreign Ministers
of Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada
and Iran.

During warm and ingenuous meeting with Foreign Minister of Russia
Sergey Lavrov a number of bilateral, regional and international issues
were discussed.

Edward Nalbandian informed Sergey Lavrov about the details of the
steps undertaken for the normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

At the meeting between Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Jeremic and
Edward Nalbandian, they both expressed satisfaction with the
intensification of bilateral cooperation in different areas during the
recent period, which was marked by the official visit of the President
of Serbia to Yerevan by the invitation of the President of Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian presented to his Serbian counterpart the process of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the recent
developments in the negotiation process for the settlement of Artsakh
(Nagorno Karabakh) issue. Vuk Jeremic expressed his gratitude for the
balanced position of Armenia on Kosovo issue and presented the legal
process on Kosovo in the International Court of Justice and the
expectations of the Serbian side. Vuk Jeremic reaffirmed the
invitation for Edward Nalbandian to visit Belgrade.

In the course of the meeting with the newly appointed Foreign Minister
of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev Edward Nalbandian congratulated him on
the appointment as Foreign Minister of friendly Kazakhstan and
expressed the determination of Armenia to support the next year
chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE.

Ministers Nalbandian and Saudabayev had a detailed discussion on
issues concerning the ways of the development of Armenian-Kazakh
cooperation, the coordination of activity within the international
organizations and the OSCE activity.

In course of the meeting between Edward Nalbandian and
Foreign Minister of Austria Michael Spindelegger the two discussed the
ways for the expansion of bilateral cooperation, Armenia-European
Union relationship and the possibilities of partnership between the
two countries within that framework. On Minister Spindelegger’s
request Edward Nalbandian presented the process and perspectives of
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, as well as the recent
developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) peace process. During the
meeting with Foreign Minister of Australia Hon Stephen Smith they had
an interested discussion on the practical steps and ways aimed at the
promotion of cooperation between Armenia and Australia. Ministers
exchanged views on some actual issues of international relations and
discussed possibility of rapprochement of cooperation within the
frameworks of the UN. Minister Smith attached importance to the
contribution of the Australian Armenian community in the life of the
country in different fields and mentioned that it could become a
unique bridge between Armenia and Australia for the expansion of
cooperation. Edward Nalbandian invited his Australian counterpart to
visit Yerevan to continue the started dialogue.

During the meeting with Foreign Minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon
Edward Nalbandian discussed issues concerning the cooperation between
the two countries in international organizations. They also touched
upon the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

On the same day Armenian Foreign Minister met Foreign Minister of Iran
Manouchehr Mottaki. They discussed issues of bilateral relations
agenda and regional developments.

On Iranian Foreign Minister’s request, Edward Nalbandian presented the
process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Foreign Minister of Iran presented to the Armenian Foreign Minister
the recent developments on Iran’s nuclear program.

In course of the negotiations with Head of the Swiss Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey Minister Nalbandian
touched upon the issues concerning the expansion of cooperation areas
between the two countries and mentioned that the opening of the Office
of Diplomatic Mission of Switzerland in Yerevan could play a serious
role in that process. Foreign Minister of Armenian thanked his Swiss
counterpart for supporting the process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations. -0-