Updates
Foreign visits
07
05, 2009
Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the Czech Republic
On May 7, at the residence of the US Ambassador in Prague there took place a meeting between the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev. After his election as President of Armenia this is Serzh Sargsyan’s fourth meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart in the context of high level NK peace negotiations.
Sargsyan-Aliev meeting started with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the two states, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mamedyarov, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Matthew Bryza, Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.
Later, Presidents Sargsyan and Aliev continued the negotiations for over two hours in a tête-à-tête format.
The Armenian side assessed the Prague meeting as useful which allowed the parties to further define approaches over the basic principles for the NK conflict resolution, as well as to bring positions of the parties over some issues closer together. The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan instructed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to continue together with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs their work based on the Madrid Principles and aimed at the further rapprochement of the basic principles of the conflict resolution and prepare the next meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
***
On May 7, the first EU Eastern Partnership Summit took place in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. This EU initiative involves six former Soviet Republics – Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. The initiative is aimed at the strengthening of their relations with the European Union, enhancement of trade and economic relations, and facilitation of visa regime, as well as encouragement of regional cooperation among the partner countries. At the Summit the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made a statement.
***
In the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague, President Serzh Sargsyan on May 7 held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Head of the British Foreign Office, David Miliband.
At the meeting with the French Prime Minister the parties warmly recalled the last year meeting in Paris and noted with satisfaction that friendly relations between Armenia and France were advancing in the economic, as well as in humanitarian and other areas. The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the entry of the French Orange Company into the Armenian telecommunication market would add a new quality to the Armenian-French economic relations. The two sides expressed readiness to further deepen the Armenian-French friendship. “France is Armenia’s friend,” - Prime Minister Fillon stressed.
At the request of the French Prime Minister, President Sargsyan presented the ongoing processes of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue and the NK peace negotiations. Speaking about the NK peace process, the President of Armenia noted that the core issue of the problem was the status of Nagorno Karabakh and said that the negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and main principles, which serve the base for negotiations, allow to move forward. President Sargsyan underscored that Armenia was ready to accept a solution which would bring a lasting peace. In his turn, the Prime Minister of France expressed readiness to support the NK peace process. Francois Fillon welcomed and expressed support for the ongoing Armenian-Turkish dialogue and for the efforts aimed at the normalization of the relations between the two countries.
During the meeting with the Prime Minister of France the two sides spoke also about the implications of the global economic and financial crisis on the economies of the two states, about the measures taken to mitigate its repercussions, and current tendencies in the world economy.
At the meeting with the Head of the British Foreign Office, the President of Armenia expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Great Britain from the first days of Armenia’s independence. The parties stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in multilateral settings and implementation of new initiatives. Serzh Sargsyan and David Miliband exchanged views on the issues related to peace, security, and stability in the South Caucasus. David Miliband noted that the Great Britain supports peaceful resolution of all existing problems and strengthening of peace in the region.
During their meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan in the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and EU Commissioner for External Relations and Eastern Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferraro-Waldner welcomed the efforts directed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed readiness to support the process.
***
On May 7, the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan met in Prague with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gule. This is the second meeting of the two leaders after the visit of the President of Turkey to Armenia made at the invitation of Serzh Sargsyan. Present at the high level Armenian-Turkish meeting were also the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmed Davutoglu.
The Presidents of Armenia and Turkey expressed satisfaction with the Prague meeting. At the meeting the parties reached agreement “to honor all previous agreements and move forward toward the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions and in a reasonable timeframe.”
***
On May 8, President Serzh Sargsyan, who arrived to Prague on a two-day working visit to participate at the inaugural Summit of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative, met with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security issues Xavier Solana.
At the meeting the parties highlighted the importance of opportunities provided by the Eastern Partnership such as deepening of the relations with the European Union, enhancement of trade and economic ties, and visa regime facilitation for partner states. The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan underlined great potential of the Eastern Partnership for enhancing regional cooperation among the partner states. In his turn, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso highlighted the importance of the EU’s cooperation with the partner countries in the framework of the Partnership and establishment of regional peace and security, noting that the European Commission was following closely and supports Armenia’s efforts aimed at the resolution of the existing problems.
Serzh Sargsyan and Xavier Solana stressed the importance of the works conducted by the EU expert group in Armenia. At the meeting with Manuel Barroso and Xavier Solana the importance of deepening democratic processes in Armenia was also underscored. The parties expressed confidence that in the framework of the Eastern Partnership the cooperation between Armenia and EU would allow to register considerable progress in that area too.
The President of Armenia presented to the President of the European Commission the Armenia-EU Action Plan for 2009-2011. The Plan, which includes almost 200 different projects and programs was approved by the President of Armenia on the eve of the Eastern Partnership Prague Summit.
Xavier Solana and Jose Manuel Barroso expressed thanks for and highly praised the Armenian President’s efforts directed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed confidence that the resolution of the existing problems would strengthen peace, security and stability in the entire region.
Sargsyan-Aliev meeting started with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the two states, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mamedyarov, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Matthew Bryza, Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.
Later, Presidents Sargsyan and Aliev continued the negotiations for over two hours in a tête-à-tête format.
The Armenian side assessed the Prague meeting as useful which allowed the parties to further define approaches over the basic principles for the NK conflict resolution, as well as to bring positions of the parties over some issues closer together. The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan instructed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to continue together with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs their work based on the Madrid Principles and aimed at the further rapprochement of the basic principles of the conflict resolution and prepare the next meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
***
On May 7, the first EU Eastern Partnership Summit took place in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. This EU initiative involves six former Soviet Republics – Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. The initiative is aimed at the strengthening of their relations with the European Union, enhancement of trade and economic relations, and facilitation of visa regime, as well as encouragement of regional cooperation among the partner countries. At the Summit the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made a statement.
***
In the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague, President Serzh Sargsyan on May 7 held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Head of the British Foreign Office, David Miliband.
At the meeting with the French Prime Minister the parties warmly recalled the last year meeting in Paris and noted with satisfaction that friendly relations between Armenia and France were advancing in the economic, as well as in humanitarian and other areas. The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the entry of the French Orange Company into the Armenian telecommunication market would add a new quality to the Armenian-French economic relations. The two sides expressed readiness to further deepen the Armenian-French friendship. “France is Armenia’s friend,” - Prime Minister Fillon stressed.
At the request of the French Prime Minister, President Sargsyan presented the ongoing processes of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue and the NK peace negotiations. Speaking about the NK peace process, the President of Armenia noted that the core issue of the problem was the status of Nagorno Karabakh and said that the negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and main principles, which serve the base for negotiations, allow to move forward. President Sargsyan underscored that Armenia was ready to accept a solution which would bring a lasting peace. In his turn, the Prime Minister of France expressed readiness to support the NK peace process. Francois Fillon welcomed and expressed support for the ongoing Armenian-Turkish dialogue and for the efforts aimed at the normalization of the relations between the two countries.
During the meeting with the Prime Minister of France the two sides spoke also about the implications of the global economic and financial crisis on the economies of the two states, about the measures taken to mitigate its repercussions, and current tendencies in the world economy.
At the meeting with the Head of the British Foreign Office, the President of Armenia expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Great Britain from the first days of Armenia’s independence. The parties stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in multilateral settings and implementation of new initiatives. Serzh Sargsyan and David Miliband exchanged views on the issues related to peace, security, and stability in the South Caucasus. David Miliband noted that the Great Britain supports peaceful resolution of all existing problems and strengthening of peace in the region.
During their meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan in the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and EU Commissioner for External Relations and Eastern Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferraro-Waldner welcomed the efforts directed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed readiness to support the process.
***
On May 7, the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan met in Prague with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gule. This is the second meeting of the two leaders after the visit of the President of Turkey to Armenia made at the invitation of Serzh Sargsyan. Present at the high level Armenian-Turkish meeting were also the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmed Davutoglu.
The Presidents of Armenia and Turkey expressed satisfaction with the Prague meeting. At the meeting the parties reached agreement “to honor all previous agreements and move forward toward the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions and in a reasonable timeframe.”
***
On May 8, President Serzh Sargsyan, who arrived to Prague on a two-day working visit to participate at the inaugural Summit of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative, met with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security issues Xavier Solana.
At the meeting the parties highlighted the importance of opportunities provided by the Eastern Partnership such as deepening of the relations with the European Union, enhancement of trade and economic ties, and visa regime facilitation for partner states. The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan underlined great potential of the Eastern Partnership for enhancing regional cooperation among the partner states. In his turn, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso highlighted the importance of the EU’s cooperation with the partner countries in the framework of the Partnership and establishment of regional peace and security, noting that the European Commission was following closely and supports Armenia’s efforts aimed at the resolution of the existing problems.
Serzh Sargsyan and Xavier Solana stressed the importance of the works conducted by the EU expert group in Armenia. At the meeting with Manuel Barroso and Xavier Solana the importance of deepening democratic processes in Armenia was also underscored. The parties expressed confidence that in the framework of the Eastern Partnership the cooperation between Armenia and EU would allow to register considerable progress in that area too.
The President of Armenia presented to the President of the European Commission the Armenia-EU Action Plan for 2009-2011. The Plan, which includes almost 200 different projects and programs was approved by the President of Armenia on the eve of the Eastern Partnership Prague Summit.
Xavier Solana and Jose Manuel Barroso expressed thanks for and highly praised the Armenian President’s efforts directed at the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and expressed confidence that the resolution of the existing problems would strengthen peace, security and stability in the entire region.