THE ARMENIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PARTICIPATED IN THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE PARIS PACT HELD IN VIENNA
Noyan Tapan
2012-02-17
On February 16, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attending the
Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact Partners dedicated
to the fight against opiates trafficking from Afghanistan. The
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the high-ranking
delegations of around five dozen countries attended the conference
and delivered speeches.
Edward Nalbandian addressed a speech during the meeting chaired by
the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Russia, France and Austria Sergey
Lavrov, Alain Juppe and Michael Spindelegger.
In his speech the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs presented
Armenia’s contribution to the fight of the international community
against illicit drug trade and reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to
continue actively supporting to the international efforts aimed
at reduction and eradication of illicit drug production, trade and
trafficking.
In Vienna Edward Nalbandian’s agenda was full of bilateral meetings.
Foreign Minister Nalbandian had a meeting with Lamberto Zannier,
the OSCE Secretary General.
In the course of the meeting the interlocutors had a thorough talk
on the recent developments in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. In this context, the OSCE Secretary General expressed concern
over the maintenance of tension on the line of contact and stressed
the importance to create mechanism for the investigation of incidents.
The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Secretary General
touched upon the preparatory works for the upcoming parliamentary
elections to be held in Armenia, as well.
In Vienna Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with his Russian counterpart
Sergey Lavrov, as well.
During the meeting of the Ministers, the bilateral agenda issues,
and international and regional developments were touched upon.
Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov discussed the issues related
to the improvement of the legal framework existing between the two
countries. The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the
invitation presented to his Russian counterpart to visit Yerevan.
The meeting with Ambassador Eoin O’Leary, the Chairman of the OSCE
Permanent Council took place in Vienna, as well.
Minister Nalbandian presented Armenia’s support to the implementation
of the Irish Chairmanship’s priorities in the OSCE.
Edward Nalbandian and Ambassador Eoin O’Leary touched upon the
scheduled visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland and
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Eamon Gilmore to Armenia.
The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was on the agenda of the
meeting, as well. In this regard, Ambassador Eoin O’Leary reaffirmed
the support of the Irish Chairmanship of the OSCE to the efforts
being undertaken by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Edward Nalbandian met with Michael Spindelegger, the Vice Chancellor
and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the
Republic of Austria.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Austria discussed the
preparatory works of the visit of the Austrian President to Armenia
scheduled this year.
Ministers Nalbandian and Spindelegger had a thorough talk on the ways
to expand bilateral cooperation in various spheres, deepening of the
interaction in the frames of international organizations. The sides
exchanged views on international agenda and regional issues.
The next meeting of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs was
with Milan Rochen, Montenegro’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and
EU integration.
The agenda of the meeting included the issues related to the
expansion of a legal framework existing between the two countries, the
development of an economic interaction, and decentralized cooperation,
as well as upcoming visit of Montenegro’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
and EU integration to Yerevan.
In Vienna Edward Nalbandian gave an extensive interview to the leading
Austrian newspaper “Der Standard”.
On the same day, concluding his visit, Edward Nalbandian returned
back to Yerevan.