Within Frameworks Of Visit To France Ra Minister Of Foreign Affairs

WITHIN FRAMEWORKS OF VISIT TO FRANCE RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAS A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS

Noyan Tapan
April 23, 2008

PARIS, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Eduard Nalbandian, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, who is in Paris on
a working visit, introduced the programs of the new leadership
of Armenia in foreign and home spheres, the approaches of Armenia
concerning a number of issues of mutual interest, as well as regional
developments during his meeting with Jean-David Levitte, the main
diplomatic adviser of the President of France on April 22.

On the same day the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed the
issues connected with the current negotiation process of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement with Bernard Fassier, a French co-Chairman
in the Minsk Group.

And issues on the expansion of intergovernmental contacts in separate
directions and on the deepening of the cooperation with France at
a decentralized level were discussed during the meeting with Andre
Santini, the Secretary of State for State Service of France.

The issues connected with the concrete activities in the spheres
of education, culture, information and telecommunication envisaged
within the frameworks of the national planning document of cooperation
for 2008-2009 between Armenia and UNESCO were discussed during the
meeting with Koichiro Matsuura, the Director General of UNESCO held
on the same day.

Eduard Nalbandian once again called the attention of the Director
General of UNESCO on the necessity for providing the assistance
and interference of UNESCO in the protection of the Armenian
historical-cultural values beyond the borders of Armenia, in
particular, expressing a deep preoccupation with the fact of a
purposeful destruction of the Armenian khachkars (commemorative
cross-stones) in Nakhijevan and once again calling to take measures
for the purpose of condemning the cultural terrorism against the
Armenian monuments of Jugha.

On April 22 Eduard Nalbandian also had a meeting with Abdou
Diouf, the Secretary General of the International Organization of
Francophonie. The latter expressed satisfaction with the cooperation
state with Armenia within the framework of Francophonie, highly
appreciating in it the contribution of Eduard Nalbandian as the
personal representative of the RA President in the Permanent Council
of Francophonie.

Eduard Nalbandian mentioned the progress, which has been recorded
in the direction of Franciphonie for the recent years in Armenia
and introduced the intention of Armenia for deepening its
involvement in the organization still more. On this occasion the
interlocutors exchanegd ideas on the further ways of cooperation and
the participation of Armenia in the Quebek Summit of Francophonie,
which is envisaged to be held this October.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the meeting of Eduard Nalbandian with Patrick Devejian, the Secretary
General of the Union for a Popular Movement is scheduled for April 23.