ARMENIAN-ITALIAN LEGAL-CONTRACTUAL SPHERE REPLENISHED WITH TWO MORE DOCUMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 24, 2009

ROME, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
paid a short working visit to Italy on November 23.

E. Nalbandian met with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in
Rome. Before the meeting the Ministers signed a Memorandum on Mutual
Understanding On High-level Political Consultations between the
Foreign Ministries of the Republic of Armenia and Italian Republic
and Agreement On Economic Cooperation between the Government of the
Republic of Armenia and the Government of Italian Republic.

At the meeting E. Nalbandian and F. Frattini had a meaningful
talk about expansion ways of cooperation in various spheres,
deepening cooperation within the framework of European structures and
international organizations, exchanged thoughts about the international
agenda and regional problems.

Various directions of the Armenia-European Union partnership, steps
to be undertaken to promote cooperation within the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership program were
also discussed during the negotiations.

F. Frattini welcomed and expressed Italy’s support to steps undertaken
in the direction of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

He mentioned that Italy is pleased with the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols and expressed the hope that they will be
ratified soon, which will give a possibility to open the common border.

E. Nalbandian and F. Frattini discussed the possibility of facilitation
of the procedure of receiving entrance visas between Armenia and the
European Union mentioning that it will contribute to activization
of contacts between the societies. The interlocutors mentioned
with satisfaction that there is proper legal-contractual sphere and
tendency of activization of economic contacts for expanding trade
and economic cooperation: Italian investments in Armenia increased
considerably in 2009. The possibility of mutual visits by the two
countries’ economic sphere executives, establishment of decentralized
cooperation, organization of Armenian-Italian business forums was
discussed. The Ministers held the same opinion that existence of
direct flights between the two countries will give a new spirit to
development of tourism and other cooperation spheres.

E. Nalbandian and F. Frattini highly evaluated cooperation established
between Armenia and Italy within the framework of the Agreement
On Cooperation in Cultural, Educational, Scientific and Technical
Spheres, cultural and educational exchanges emphasizing that it
creates new possibilities for further deepening of cooperation in
the humanitarian sphere.

At his Italian counterpart’s request E. Nalbandian presented the
latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, the results
of RA and Azeri Presidents’ meeting held the day before in Munich.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
the same day E. Nalbandian visited the Italian Senate where he met with
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, former Prime
Minister of Italy Lamberto Dini. Issues related to development of
Armenian-Italian partnership, cooperation between the two countries’
parliaments were discussed, thoughts over regional and international
issues were exchanged at the meeting.

The RA Foreign Minister gave a lecture on Armenia’s foreign policy
at the Senate. The lecture was organized by the Italian Organization
for International Relations and Italian-Armenian Interparliamentary
Friendship Group. There were senators, Italian parliament
deputies, ambassadors and diplomats, scientists, expertise circles
representatives, students among over 200 participants of the lecture.

E. Nalbandian in his speech touched upon Armenian-Italian historic
relations, partner relations formed between the two countries and
possibilities of their development, Armenia-European Union cooperation,
problems in the South Caucasus and presented Armenia’s vision of
their solution.

During his stay in Rome the RA Foreign Minister also visited Vatican
and met with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Secretary for Relations
with States of the Holy See.

Expressing satisfaction with the high-level relations established
between Armenia and Vatican, as well as between the Armenian Apostolic
and Roman Catholic Churches the interlocutors expressed confidence
that they will be further strengthened thanks to mutual efforts.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress