Thursday, September 27 2018 13:12

ArmInfo.Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with his counterparts from Romania Teodor Melescanu, India Sushma Swaraji, Madagascar Eloi Maxime Dovo and Vanuatu Ralph  Regenvanu on September 26 in New York on the  sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly

As the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo,  the Armenian minister discussed with his counterpart from Madagascar  the interaction at various venues. Mnatsakanyan stressed that Armenia  attaches importance to expanding all-round partnership with the  African continent and is ready to take practical steps to use the  existing potential in this direction.

The sides discussed the steps to develop bilateral relations, touched  upon the forthcoming summit of the OIF in Yerevan, preparatory works  and planned events. In this context, Mnatsakanyan spoke about the  priorities of the RA presidency in the International Organisation of  La Francophonie. The same issues were discussed with counterparts  from Romania and Vanuatu.

At the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, the  Armenian Foreign Minister expressed readiness to implement practical  steps to deepen cooperation in a number of areas.  The sides touched  upon the Armenia-EU comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement,  from the point of view of developing partnerships between Yerevan and  Brussels, as well as with the EU member states. It was agreed to take  steps to more efficiently fulfill the potential that exists in the  trade and economic sectors between the two countries, in particular,  the revitalization of the activities of the intergovernmental  commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.   Mnatsakanyan also spoke about Armenia's priorities in the settlement  of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  The two sides agreed that the  conflict should be settled peacefully through negotiations.  The  Foreign Ministers of Armenia and India agreed that there is a serious  potential between the countries to present ambitious projects and  raise mutually beneficial cooperation to a more practical field. In  the matter of promoting the bilateral agenda, the parties highlight  the role of the intergovernmental commission.  Mnatsakanyan spoke  about the commitment of the Armenian government based on the people's  mandate to continue the reform process in the country, aimed at  strengthening human rights, justice, the rule of law, providing equal  opportunities in the economic and social sectors, and fighting  corruption.  Presenting the agenda of Armenia's development, and the  underlying achievements of the country in the field of information  technologies and innovations, Mnatsakanyan added that education plays  an important role in this. He also expressed gratitude to the  Government of India for the assistance provided in this direction.

The interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the level of  interaction within the international structures, as well as the  promotion of each other at various platforms. The sides exchanged  views on topical issues, regional problems and approaches to their  solution, and agreed that there is no alternative to a peaceful  settlement of conflicts.

At the same time, Mnatsakanyan and Regenvanu discussed at the meeting  in New York both bilateral and multilateral issues, stressing the  importance of active and efficient cooperation within the framework  of international structures. The two sides exchanged views on  cooperation within the framework of the OIF.