Tweet
Azerbaijan is losing more and more the sense of reality - Armenian FM
19:33 | September 8,2014 | Official
Address and the question and answer of the Foreign Minister of Armenia
at the joint press conference with the Foreign Minister of Austria
Good afternoon,
I am glad to welcome my Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Austria who is on an official visit in Armenia.
Today we had a good opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of
bilateral agenda. We also touched upon the implementation of
agreements made during the official visit of the president of Armenia
to Austria as well as the preceding visit of the President of Austria,
Mr. Fischer to Armenia.
We exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues.
We will also have an opportunity to continue our conversation during
the working lunch.
I am pleased that Mr. Kurz has arrived to Armenia with big group of
businessmen especially from the energy sector. I think it can boost
the development of our trade and economic relations.
We had an exchange of ideas on the ways of expanding already existing
solid legal framework. There are nearly twenty agreements signed
between our countries. We spoke also about the ways to intensify
inter-parliamentary ties, and we noted that there is a great potential
for development of decentralized cooperation.
We stressed the importance of holding periodical consultations between
our Foreign Ministries. We are organizing meetings between the Foreign
Ministers, representatives of the MFA's during different international
forums. We will continue this good tradition, established between our
two Foreign Ministries.
Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Sebastian Kurz.
Please.
Question: Mr. Nalbandian, the Declaration adopted during the NATO
Summit seems to give a privilege to the territorial integrity. How
would you comment on this?
And a question to both Ministers: how do you assess the agreement on
establishment of ceasefire in the Southeastern Ukraine?
Edward Nalbandian: I am sure you know that NATO has declared several
times that it doesn't deal with Nagorno-Karabakh resolution process.
Moreover, it has expressed its support to the approaches and efforts
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which have been expressed many
times in the famous five Statements on Presidential level and which
are in line with the Armenian position.
Two of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs are also NATO Members. Despite this
during the recent NATO Summits, with some changes from summit to
summit, also in the last one in Wales in the provision related to the
conflicts resolution in Moldova and the Southern Caucasus, there are
some expressions, which present generalized and selective approach,
which doesn't reflect the proposals of the Co-Chairs, ideas and
approaches voiced by the Co-Chairs, as well as the numerous statements
and decisions adopted in the framework of the OSCE during the recent
years.
This of course harms the negotiation process as well as undermines
regional stability and security. It also contributes that Azerbaijan
is losing more and more the sense of reality and with its militaristic
rhetoric and policy opposes to the approach of the international
community. I would like also to note that such approach to the
principles contradicts the international law, the UN Charter and the
Helsinki Final Act.
Concerning the situation in Ukraine I can say that we welcome the
agreement on ceasefire and we hope that it will be implemented, and
they already started to be implemented, which will pave a way for
finding solutions around the negotiation table, for the lasting
resolution.
Question: How is the negotiation process on Armenia's accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union going on? And which role Karabakh issue is
playing in that process?
Edward Nalbandian: The negotiations continue within their normal
course and I think soon there will be concrete results: And on
Karabakh: there were statements at the highest level both from Armenia
and Russia, where it is clearly said that we don't speak about
accession of Armenia to the Eurasian Union with Nagorno-Karabakh. This
question cannot be an obstacle for our accession to the Eurasian
Union.
Question: Does the Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Union mean that
the chance of signing the Association Agreement with the EU is finally
closed?
Edward Nalbandian: You know that during the Vilnius Summit Armenia and
the EU adopted a Joint Statement, where the mutual intention to
continue cooperation in all possible areas is expressed. This is our
approach, and this is also the EU's approach, and we will continue our
work and efforts in this direction. Moreover, Armenian Foreign
Minister and Catherine Ashton exchanged letters on this intention,
where further steps are presented in more detailed way.
http://en.a1plus.am/1195678.html
19:33 | September 8,2014 | Official
Address and the question and answer of the Foreign Minister of Armenia
at the joint press conference with the Foreign Minister of Austria
Good afternoon,
I am glad to welcome my Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Austria who is on an official visit in Armenia.
Today we had a good opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of
bilateral agenda. We also touched upon the implementation of
agreements made during the official visit of the president of Armenia
to Austria as well as the preceding visit of the President of Austria,
Mr. Fischer to Armenia.
We exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues.
We will also have an opportunity to continue our conversation during
the working lunch.
I am pleased that Mr. Kurz has arrived to Armenia with big group of
businessmen especially from the energy sector. I think it can boost
the development of our trade and economic relations.
We had an exchange of ideas on the ways of expanding already existing
solid legal framework. There are nearly twenty agreements signed
between our countries. We spoke also about the ways to intensify
inter-parliamentary ties, and we noted that there is a great potential
for development of decentralized cooperation.
We stressed the importance of holding periodical consultations between
our Foreign Ministries. We are organizing meetings between the Foreign
Ministers, representatives of the MFA's during different international
forums. We will continue this good tradition, established between our
two Foreign Ministries.
Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Sebastian Kurz.
Please.
Question: Mr. Nalbandian, the Declaration adopted during the NATO
Summit seems to give a privilege to the territorial integrity. How
would you comment on this?
And a question to both Ministers: how do you assess the agreement on
establishment of ceasefire in the Southeastern Ukraine?
Edward Nalbandian: I am sure you know that NATO has declared several
times that it doesn't deal with Nagorno-Karabakh resolution process.
Moreover, it has expressed its support to the approaches and efforts
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which have been expressed many
times in the famous five Statements on Presidential level and which
are in line with the Armenian position.
Two of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs are also NATO Members. Despite this
during the recent NATO Summits, with some changes from summit to
summit, also in the last one in Wales in the provision related to the
conflicts resolution in Moldova and the Southern Caucasus, there are
some expressions, which present generalized and selective approach,
which doesn't reflect the proposals of the Co-Chairs, ideas and
approaches voiced by the Co-Chairs, as well as the numerous statements
and decisions adopted in the framework of the OSCE during the recent
years.
This of course harms the negotiation process as well as undermines
regional stability and security. It also contributes that Azerbaijan
is losing more and more the sense of reality and with its militaristic
rhetoric and policy opposes to the approach of the international
community. I would like also to note that such approach to the
principles contradicts the international law, the UN Charter and the
Helsinki Final Act.
Concerning the situation in Ukraine I can say that we welcome the
agreement on ceasefire and we hope that it will be implemented, and
they already started to be implemented, which will pave a way for
finding solutions around the negotiation table, for the lasting
resolution.
Question: How is the negotiation process on Armenia's accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union going on? And which role Karabakh issue is
playing in that process?
Edward Nalbandian: The negotiations continue within their normal
course and I think soon there will be concrete results: And on
Karabakh: there were statements at the highest level both from Armenia
and Russia, where it is clearly said that we don't speak about
accession of Armenia to the Eurasian Union with Nagorno-Karabakh. This
question cannot be an obstacle for our accession to the Eurasian
Union.
Question: Does the Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Union mean that
the chance of signing the Association Agreement with the EU is finally
closed?
Edward Nalbandian: You know that during the Vilnius Summit Armenia and
the EU adopted a Joint Statement, where the mutual intention to
continue cooperation in all possible areas is expressed. This is our
approach, and this is also the EU's approach, and we will continue our
work and efforts in this direction. Moreover, Armenian Foreign
Minister and Catherine Ashton exchanged letters on this intention,
where further steps are presented in more detailed way.
http://en.a1plus.am/1195678.html