RA FOREIGN MINISTER TAKES PART IN OSCE FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING IN GREECE
Noyan Tapan
June 29, 2009
CORFU, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian took
part in the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ unofficial meeting on June 28 in
Corfu Island, Greece, dedicated to issues of security strengthening in
Europe. 45 Foreign Ministers of OSCE member-countries’, high-ranking
representatives of CSTO, CIS, EU, NATO and OSCE took part in the
meeting.
E. Nalbandian made a speech at the meeting presenting Armenia’s views
on provision of security in Europe.
"The security agreements operating before were connected with
the reality that has changed today. Time has come to work out more
efficient Euroatlantic security system maybe in the form of a European
security treaty, which will exactly stipulate that general security is
inseparable, that states do not build their security at the expense
of others, that you cannot recognize one’s right rejecting the same
right of another, when use of force or its threat have no room, when
all countries unite their efforts to fight general dangers. Under
presence of these components we will be able to efficiently resist
the current challenges," the RA Foreign Minister said.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, within the framework of the OSCE Foreign
Ministers’ meeting the RA Foreign Minister also took part in the
meeting of CSTO member-countries’ Foreign Ministers, had a number of
bilateral meetings.
Development ways of bilateral relations in political and economic
spheres were discussed at the meeting with Foreign Minister of Denmark
Per Stig Moller. The Ministers exchanged thoughts over issues of
providing security in the South Caucasus. Accepting E. Nalbandian’s
invitation to visit Armenia, Per Stig Moller said that he will arrive
in Yerevan this autumn.
Further deepening of bilateral relations was touched upon at the
meeting with Foreign Minister of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey. The
Foreign Minister of Switzerland informed E. Nalbandian about the
decision of founding a diplomatic representation in Yerevan.
E. Nalbandian also met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James
Steinberg in Corfu. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon was
also present at the meeting. Issues regarding various spheres of
Armenian-American friendly relations, possibilities of development and
expansion of cooperation were touched upon during the talk. A number of
international and regional issues were also discussed at the meeting.
E. Nalbandian also met with European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner
and had a detailed talk over various spheres of Armenia-European
Union cooperation. At Commissioner’s request the RA Foreign Minister
presented the latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations process.
Possibilities of bilateral cooperation and expansion of the
legal-contractual sphere were discussed at the meeting with Foreign
Minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon. E. Nalbandian and L. Cannon
touched upon possibilities of the two countries’ cooperation at
international organizations.
Activation and strengthening of bilateral relations were touched
upon at the meeting of E. Nalbandian with Foreign Minister of Ireland
Micheal Martin.
The Ministers discussed joint steps aimed at development of political
dialogue, economic cooperation and cultural contacts.