ARMENIAN-SWISS BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN BERN

Noyan Tapan
11.11.2009

BERN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 11, after RA President’s
state visit to Hungary, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian left
Budapest for Switzerland on a short official visit where he met with
Foreign Minister of Hungary Micheline Calmy-Rey. According to the RA
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, a number of issues
related to various spheres of cooperation, regional and international
issues were on meeting’s agenda.

The sides mentioned with satisfaction that during the past year
the bilateral relations developed unprecedentedly, and one of its
evidence is Switzerland’s mediation in the normalization process
of Armenian-Turkish relations. Development of the relations was
marked by Charles Aznavour’s appointment as RA Ambassador to
Switzerland, as well as by foundation of Switzerland’s diplomatic
representation in Armenia. Highly evaluating the dynamics of recent
development of Armenian-Swiss relations E. Nalbandian and M. Calmy-Rey
attached importance to necessity of mutual visits, expansion of the
legal-contractual sphere as a guarantee of further expansion of the
comprehensive cooperation.

In the context of Switzerland’s coming chairmanship in the Council of
Europe the Ministers exchanged thoughts over issues on organization’s
agenda and its activity.

Touching upon the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations
and Switzerland’s mediation E. Nalbandian expressed gratitude
for the mediatory efforts. According to the RA Foreign Minister,
Switzerland has assumed a mission that demands inflexibility, reserve,
cautiousness and patience, and the mediator state carried out that
mission with honor.

Within the framework of the visit, at the Swiss government’s Reception
House, E. Nalbandian and M. Calmy-Rey signed Agreement On Regular Air
Communications between the RA Government and Swiss Federal Council and
Agreement On Liquidating the Demand of Entrance Visa for People Having
Diplomatic Passports between RA Government and Swiss Federal Council.

Ministers’ joint press conference took place after the ceremony.

The RA Foreign Minister returned to Yerevan on November 11.