Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

MFA: Armenia's FM Oskanian Receives Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • MFA: Armenia's FM Oskanian Receives Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

    PRESS RELEASE
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
    Contact: Information Desk
    Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.ArmeniaForeignMinistry.am

    Armenia's FM Oskanian Receives Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

    Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov arrived in Armenia for his first working
    visit late Wednesday, February 16. On February 17, Minister Oskanian
    received his Russian counterpart at Armenia's Foreign Ministry for a lengthy
    meeting.

    The Armenian Foreign Minister welcomed Minister Lavrov's visit to Yerevan,
    noting that in the last decade Armenia-Russia relations have deepened, with
    strategic cooperation between the two based on common interests. Minister
    Lavrov, too, expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation and
    the positive direction of interstate contacts. As evidence, he pointed to
    the fact that 2005 is the Year of Russia, in Armenia.

    Noting that there is a conflation of opinion and approach surrounding
    various international and regional developments, the sides expressed
    readiness to take the necessary steps to create an atmosphere of reciprocal
    confidence and cooperation in the South Caucasus. In this context, the
    Armenian and Russian ministers discussed the current stage of negotiations
    surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Minister Lavrov expressed hope
    that the Prague Process would give the two sides the opportunity to find
    common ground for the quick settlement of the conflict, and reaffirmed
    Russia's readiness to serve as guarantor for whatever agreement is reached
    by the sides.

    The two ministers discussed the main issues on the Armenia-Russia agenda.
    They focused specifically on economic matters and spoke of the effeciveness
    of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the
    Armenia-Russia Business Cooperation Union. They noted that such cooperation
    can only be aided by the recently enhanced contacts between Armenia's
    regions and specific Russian companies.

    In the context of improved economic relations, Ministers Oskanian and Lavrov
    stressed the importance of a unified policy on the part of the countries of
    the South Caucasus and Russia towards the reestablishment of communication
    lines in the region, noting that this would at the same time benefit the
    settlement of existing conflicts. The ministers acknowledged that some
    progress is noticeable in this area and discussed a series of issues which
    still await resolution.

    In the context of the Year of Russia, they discussed humanitarian
    activities, cultural exchange, and a variety of programs and activities and
    programs in the fields of trade, culture, science, education, information,
    youth, sports and tourism which will begin by mid-March. Armenia's and
    Russia's top diplomats also discussed the need to encourage and facilitate
    Armenian and Russian language instruction in each other's countries,
    especially in the context of the historic friendship between the two
    peoples.

    On the bilateral agenda, the ministers examined issues relating to Armenian
    citizens in Russia, such as residency, status and work quotas, as well as
    specific consular and diplomatic matters.

    Minister Lavrov and Minister Oskanian conferred about cooperation in
    international and regional organizations, CIS reforms, cooperation in the
    Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and UN reform.

    During his one-day visit, Minister Lavrov, who had last visited Armenia
    over a decade earlier, placed a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide
    Memorial, visited Armenia's Slavonic University, and participated in a joint
    news conference with Minister Oskanian.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X