THE ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S TRIP TO KUWAIT
http://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/item/2012/11/19/v_kuwait/
19.11.2012
On November 19 the official visit of the Armenian Minister of Foreign
Affairs to the State of Kuwait started.
In the morning, Edward Nalbandian was received by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, Foreign Minister conveyed to
the Emir of Kuwait the greetings and wishes of Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan and reaffirmed the Armenian President's invitation to the
Emir of Kuwait to visit Armenia. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asked
the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs to convey to the President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan the warmest wishes and to inform that he
would accept the invitation to visit Armenia with great pleasure.
In the course of the meeting, the implementation of the agreements
reached in the frames of the state visit of the Armenian President to
Kuwait in 2009 was discussed. The sides mentioned with satisfaction
that the embassies of both countries were opened in Yerevan and Kuwait,
and an inter-governmental commission is currently functioning.
The Head of Kuwait praised the Armenians living in his country,
stressing their contribution to the prosperity of Kuwait. Edward
Nalbandian expressed gratitude for warm and caring attitude provided
by the Kuwaiti authorities towards the Armenian community and in
supporting the construction of the Armenian Church in Kuwait.
The Emir of Kuwait and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs exchanged
views on the developments in the Middle East as well.
During the meeting between Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and
Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad
Al-Sabah, the sides had a thorough talk on the steps undertaken
towards the promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The Kuwaiti Prime Minister and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
touched upon the preparatory works of the second session of the
Inter-governmental commission. The sides exchanged views on the
possibility to organize business forum.
Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah told that during
the upcoming session the relevant assignments would be presented to
responsible agencies.
On the same day the talks between Edward Nalbandian and Sheikh Sabah
Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs took place.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation to visit Kuwait, Edward
Nalbandian said that Armenia attaches great importance to the
development of relations with Kuwait, and in the Arab world generally,
and Armenia would continue taking steps towards that direction.
During the meeting, the Ministers touched upon the implementation
of the agreements reached between the Heads of the two states, the
expansion of legal framework and the deepening of trade and economic
cooperation, as well as issues related to the development of ties in
the spheres of bank, agriculture, health, education and culture.
The interaction in the international organizations, holding of regular
consultations between the two countries' MFAs and regional and global
issues were on the agenda of the talks.
Talking about the developments over Gaza, the Armenian Minister
of Foreign Affairs said, "Armenia, as well as the international
community are deeply concerned about the increase of tensions in and
around the Gaza Strip. The use of force which has resulted in dozens
of casualties amongst the civilian population is seriously damaging
already quite fragile regional situation. It should be put an end to
the use of force or threat of use. We firmly believe that there is
no alternative to a settlement through peaceful negotiations."
Edward Nalbandian expressed his concern over the situation in Syria,
as well, mentioning that due to the conflict Armenia is continuing
to accept thousands of Armenians living in Syria. In that context
Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs informed about the decision of
the Kuwaiti authorities on the provision of humanitarian aid to the
Syrian Armenians.
The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affair presented his Kuwaiti
counterpart the recent developments in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and underlined that Armenia highly appreciates
the balanced position of the Kuwaiti authorities to support the
international community, the steps undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs towards the settlement of the issue.
The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Kuwait signed an agreement on the
visa regime facilitation for diplomatic passport holders which created
a basis for the visa regime facilitation between the two countries.
Edward Nalbandian invited Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to
pay a visit to Armenia.
An important part of the agenda of Edward Nalbandian's Kuwaiti trip
was the economic dimension, too.
In the course of the talks with Nayef Falah Al- Hajraf, the
Kuwait's Minister of Finance and the head of the Armenian- Kuwaiti
inter-governmental commission on the Kuwaiti side, the results of
the first session of the Commission held in Yerevan last year and the
drafting of the upcoming session's agenda to be held in Kuwait in the
first half of the next year and preparatory works were touched upon.
The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the Kuwait Fund
for Arab Economic Development where he had a meeting with Abdulwahab
Al-Bader, the Director General of the Fund.
The Director General presented the activities of his agency and the
achieved results.
During the talk, the sides discussed the possibility to conduct
projects of the Fund in Armenia.
The Director General of the Fund expressed willingness to take certain
steps in that direction.
In Kuwait, Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the Armenian community,
as well. During the meeting Minister Nalbandian presented the results
of his visit, the priorities of Armenia's foreign policy and the
steps undertaken towards the strengthening of the Armenia-Diaspora
ties. Edward Nalbandian answered numerous questions of the attendees,
as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/item/2012/11/19/v_kuwait/
19.11.2012
On November 19 the official visit of the Armenian Minister of Foreign
Affairs to the State of Kuwait started.
In the morning, Edward Nalbandian was received by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, Foreign Minister conveyed to
the Emir of Kuwait the greetings and wishes of Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan and reaffirmed the Armenian President's invitation to the
Emir of Kuwait to visit Armenia. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah asked
the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs to convey to the President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan the warmest wishes and to inform that he
would accept the invitation to visit Armenia with great pleasure.
In the course of the meeting, the implementation of the agreements
reached in the frames of the state visit of the Armenian President to
Kuwait in 2009 was discussed. The sides mentioned with satisfaction
that the embassies of both countries were opened in Yerevan and Kuwait,
and an inter-governmental commission is currently functioning.
The Head of Kuwait praised the Armenians living in his country,
stressing their contribution to the prosperity of Kuwait. Edward
Nalbandian expressed gratitude for warm and caring attitude provided
by the Kuwaiti authorities towards the Armenian community and in
supporting the construction of the Armenian Church in Kuwait.
The Emir of Kuwait and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs exchanged
views on the developments in the Middle East as well.
During the meeting between Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and
Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad
Al-Sabah, the sides had a thorough talk on the steps undertaken
towards the promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The Kuwaiti Prime Minister and Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
touched upon the preparatory works of the second session of the
Inter-governmental commission. The sides exchanged views on the
possibility to organize business forum.
Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah told that during
the upcoming session the relevant assignments would be presented to
responsible agencies.
On the same day the talks between Edward Nalbandian and Sheikh Sabah
Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs took place.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation to visit Kuwait, Edward
Nalbandian said that Armenia attaches great importance to the
development of relations with Kuwait, and in the Arab world generally,
and Armenia would continue taking steps towards that direction.
During the meeting, the Ministers touched upon the implementation
of the agreements reached between the Heads of the two states, the
expansion of legal framework and the deepening of trade and economic
cooperation, as well as issues related to the development of ties in
the spheres of bank, agriculture, health, education and culture.
The interaction in the international organizations, holding of regular
consultations between the two countries' MFAs and regional and global
issues were on the agenda of the talks.
Talking about the developments over Gaza, the Armenian Minister
of Foreign Affairs said, "Armenia, as well as the international
community are deeply concerned about the increase of tensions in and
around the Gaza Strip. The use of force which has resulted in dozens
of casualties amongst the civilian population is seriously damaging
already quite fragile regional situation. It should be put an end to
the use of force or threat of use. We firmly believe that there is
no alternative to a settlement through peaceful negotiations."
Edward Nalbandian expressed his concern over the situation in Syria,
as well, mentioning that due to the conflict Armenia is continuing
to accept thousands of Armenians living in Syria. In that context
Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs informed about the decision of
the Kuwaiti authorities on the provision of humanitarian aid to the
Syrian Armenians.
The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affair presented his Kuwaiti
counterpart the recent developments in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and underlined that Armenia highly appreciates
the balanced position of the Kuwaiti authorities to support the
international community, the steps undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs towards the settlement of the issue.
The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Kuwait signed an agreement on the
visa regime facilitation for diplomatic passport holders which created
a basis for the visa regime facilitation between the two countries.
Edward Nalbandian invited Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to
pay a visit to Armenia.
An important part of the agenda of Edward Nalbandian's Kuwaiti trip
was the economic dimension, too.
In the course of the talks with Nayef Falah Al- Hajraf, the
Kuwait's Minister of Finance and the head of the Armenian- Kuwaiti
inter-governmental commission on the Kuwaiti side, the results of
the first session of the Commission held in Yerevan last year and the
drafting of the upcoming session's agenda to be held in Kuwait in the
first half of the next year and preparatory works were touched upon.
The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the Kuwait Fund
for Arab Economic Development where he had a meeting with Abdulwahab
Al-Bader, the Director General of the Fund.
The Director General presented the activities of his agency and the
achieved results.
During the talk, the sides discussed the possibility to conduct
projects of the Fund in Armenia.
The Director General of the Fund expressed willingness to take certain
steps in that direction.
In Kuwait, Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the Armenian community,
as well. During the meeting Minister Nalbandian presented the results
of his visit, the priorities of Armenia's foreign policy and the
steps undertaken towards the strengthening of the Armenia-Diaspora
ties. Edward Nalbandian answered numerous questions of the attendees,
as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress