AZG Armenian Daily #044, 10/03/2007
ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Iran Issue not Discussed Specially on Oskanian-Rice Meeting
Making a brief report on his recent visits abroad Foreign Minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanian also said that a visit to Switzerland is
scheduled. In Switzerland Oskanian is to take part in a Human Rights
Protection Commission, to meet with the Swiss authorities and with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. On April the visit of
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Armenia is planned.
Mr. Oskanian said that the latest US Department of State report on
human rights is now being thoroughly studied by the government of
Armenia. He said that in general the report represents the negative
and positive facts in Armenia rather objectively, but still there are
certain mistakes which are to be corrected. The situation of human
rights in Armenia will be once more represented to the world society
on the meeting of the Human Rights Protection Commission by Vardan
Oskanian. The Minister said that in his speech he will mostly refer to
the legislation reforms in Armenia, its challenges in that sphere, to
human rights issues in Karabakh, to the question of Armenian graves
desecration in Nakhijevan and the murder of Hrant Dink.
Referring to the theme of GUAM "Frozen Conflicts Resolution",
Mr. Oskanian said that it is accepted negatively by most of the
countries interested ion the Karabakh conflict settlement. "They all
find the resolution unnecessary and that it can complicate the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. We tried to represent to the UN
Secretary General all the negative consequences of adopting the
resolution and Armenia’s possible position in case it takes place",
said the Minister.
Oskanian also informed that on his meeting with US Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border was
discussed. Mr. Oskanian assured that the United States are indeed
interested in opening the border and will be consistent in achieving
it. The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh more detailed was considered on a
meeting with Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. After this meeting
the Armenian Foreign Minister once again met with Ms. Rice and
discussed the expected Oskanian-Mamedyarov meeting in
Geneva. Mr. Oskanian stated that the preparations for the meeting have
gone well and in case there are no surprises from Azerbaijan, the
meeting promises to be fruitful.
To a question by "Azg" reporter whether Mr. Oskanian discussed the
Iran issue with Secretary of State Rice, he answered negatively. To a
question about mutual compromise in the Karabakh conflict the Foreign
Minister said that all those issues are regulated by a document,
approved by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He rued that
statements by some Azerbaijani leaders run in discord with the
document, in which Armenia puts trust and believes it will be basement
for final settlement of the conflict.
By Agavni Haroutiunian