MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: press@mfa.am

PRESS RELEASE

02-03-2007

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Meets with New UN Secretary General

On the very day that marked the 15th anniversary of independent Armenia’s
entry into the
UN, Armenia’s Foreign Minister was at UN headquarters in New York, to meet
with new Secretary General Ban-ki Moon. Minister Oskanian congratulated the
Secretary General on his appointment and repeated Armenia’s readiness to
work effectively as a contributing member of the international community.

The Minister said that Armenia is pleased with the work of the various UN
agencies in Armenia. He stressed that such indicators as the Human
Development Index and the Millennium Development Goals offer solid
guidelines for further development. The Minister explained that in addition
to the government’s Poverty Reducation Strategy, a new program aims to
partner international organizations, the diaspora and the country’s own
resources to focus on rural poverty eradication.

The Secretary General and the Minister discussed developments in the
Caucasus region and the Karabakh resolution process. Minister Oskanian
explained the evolution of the negotiations, and the current phase of the
OSCE Minsk process which addresses the issue at the core of the conflict –
the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination. In that
spirit, Minister Oskanian explained that efforts to seek statements at the
UN or in other forums which ignore or contradict this reality would damage
the process and further delay a lasting resolution.