Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday


OSCE Secretary General assures closure of Yerevan Office is not the
end of cooperation



YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. The closure of OSCE Yerevan Office is
only the closure of one chapter and opening of new paths to work
together, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said at a joint
press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in
Yerevan on May 30, reports Armenpress.

“I am here because unfortunately we couldn’t reach consensus on the
continuous activity of the Office. I am here to talk to the staff and
organize the process of closure. Unfortunately, we have to complete
the works with Armenia, however, there are many important topics in
the agenda. We need to find different formats for working together and
to assure that closure of the Office is the closure of only one
chapter. The OSCE will continue assisting Armenia in elections. There
are important programs relating to cooperation with the OSCE or other
international organizations, and we are going to continue following
them. I want to thank the Armenian Government for good cooperation and
state that we will continue working on that paths”, the OSCE Secretary
General highlighted.

Asked about Azerbaijan’s role in the closure of the Yerevan Office and
the OSCE’s non-response to that country’s unconstructive behavior,
Lamberto Zannier said: “You know that OSCE operates by consensus and
it doesn’t blame any country that violated the consensus, that didn’t
join the consensus. But, of course, I personally regret that the
mission will not continue, and I must say that we need to try to find
ways to continue the works done here”.