Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Nicosia: Armenia President In Cyprus On Eve Of EU-Turkey Report

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

  • Nicosia: Armenia President In Cyprus On Eve Of EU-Turkey Report

    ARMENIA PRESIDENT IN CYPRUS ON EVE OF EU-TURKEY REPORT

    Financial Mirror, Cyprus
    Nov 22 2006

    The President of Armenia Robert Kocharian arrives late Wednesday for
    a three-day state visit to Cyprus, the first since the former Soviet
    republic gained independence 15 years ago.

    The visit also coincides with the run-up to Turkey's EU accession
    hopes and the obstacles that Ankara is facing, primarily with its
    denial of the genocide of the Armenians in 1915 and refusal to comply
    with EU protocols to allow the entry of Cypriot vessels at its ports
    and airports.

    The Armenian President, accompanied by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
    and a 30-member delegation, will be welcomed at Larnaca airport by
    Acting Foreign Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
    the Environment Photis Photiou and will begin his official programme
    on Thursday, with a meeting with President Tassos Papadopoulos at
    the Presidential Palace.

    The official talks will include an agreement on co-operation in
    combating organized and other forms of crime that will be signed by
    Cyprus Minister of Justice and Public Order Sophocles Sophocleous
    and the Minister of Justice of Armenia Davit Harutyunyan.

    Kocharian will later meet House President Demetris Christofias, while
    Foreign Minister George Lillikas will host a lunch in honour of the
    President of Armenia. After that Kocharian will meet with Archbishop
    Chrysostomos II and the day will ebd with a state banquet will be
    hosted by President Papadopoulos.

    Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan said that though a visit had been planned
    during President Clerides' administration, this did not materialise.

    This visit was finalised when the two state leaders met at the events
    marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow
    last year.

    Central Bank Chairman Tigran Sargsyan is also expected to have meeting
    with officials at the Central Bank of Cyprus, while Deputy Culture
    Minister Gagik Gyurjian will sign a memorandum of cooperation that
    renews a bilateral education and culture programme for the years
    2006-2008.

    On Friday, Kocharian will visit Nicosia Town Hall where he will meet
    with the Mayor of Nicosia Michalakis Zampelas who will present the
    Armenian president with the golden key to the city and will accompany
    him to a visit to the old part of town and the cease-fire line.

    Later on, Kocharian and his delegation will visit the Nareg Armenian
    elementary school in Nicosia and meet with the Armenian Archbishop
    and members of the community.

    In the afternoon he will lay the foundation stone of the monument
    to commemorate the survivors of the Armenian genocide at the Larnaca
    Promenade.

    He leaves on Saturday morning.
Working...
X