Monday, February 18 2019 11:51

ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan continued to hold meetings in Munich, on the margins of the Security Conference, with foreign counterparts.

During the meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad  Zarif, Mnatsakanyan discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral  agenda. Cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, tourism was  emphasized. The parties also stressed the importance of enhancing  tourism in a bilateral direction. At the meeting with Cyprus Foreign  Minister Nikos Christodoulides, the sides expressed satisfaction with  the multi-layered and friendly relations of the countries and the  dynamics of interaction. Mnatsakanyan presented to his counterpart  the priorities of Armenia's foreign policy, as well as the country's  economic priorities. The Minister also noted that the Comprehensive  and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU creates the basis for  deepening relations with the EU countries.

During the meeting with Miroslav Lajcak, Foreign Minister of Slovakia  the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the  Armenian-Slovakian agenda. They expressed a commitment to expand  bilateral cooperation through joint efforts.

Referring to the Armenia-EU partnership, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and  Miroslav Lajcak attached importance to the Comprehensive and Enhanced  Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the European Union as an  important pivot for Armenia-EU relations.

The sides touched upon the collaboration of the two countries on  international platforms.  In this context, they discussed the process  of implementation of the priorities of the Chairpersonship of  Slovakia in the OSCE

Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan presented to Miroslav Lajcak the  approaches and the principled position of the Armenian side on the  exclusively peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under  the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairmanship.

On the same day, Mnatsakanyan met with Fiona Hill, Senior Director of  the US Security Council for Europe and Russia. The parties discussed  issues of a bilateral and multilateral agenda. Emphasis was also  placed on regional and international issues.

Mnatsakanyan and Jan Hecker, the foreign policy adviser of German  Chancellor,discussed the issues of development of Armenian-German  relations, touching upon the implementation of agreements reached  during mutual high-level visits between the heads of both countries.   The head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry expressed confidence that  the positive dynamics recorded recently in relations between the  countries creates excellent conditions for enriching the agenda of  the Armenian-German mutual cooperation with new content. Among the  most important areas, among others, were the spheres of high  technology, creative education and innovation. The interlocutors also  exchanged views on a number of topical regional issues. Zohrab  Mnatsakanyan presented to Jan Hecker the approaches of Armenia to  settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 

On the same day, Mnatsakanyan met with the Secretary General of the  League of Arab States (LAS), Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Highly appreciating  the traditional warm ties of the Arab world with Armenia, Minister  Mnatsakanyan and Secretary General Aboul Gheit discussed the steps  necessary for the further development of effective mutual  cooperation. The interlocutors exchanged views on developments in the  Middle East, the humanitarian situation prevailing in Syria and  possible steps aimed at improving it. In this regard, the head of the  Armenian Foreign Ministry noted that the humanitarian situation in  Syria, in particular, the challenges the Armenian community faced,  was constantly in the spotlight of Armenia, and Armenia intends to  continue its contribution to the humanitarian mission on the spot.   Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Ahmed Aboul Gheit also touched upon a number  of pressing international and regional issues.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda,  Richard Sezibera Mnatsakanyan assured that Armenia is committed to  developing multilateral cooperation with the countries of the African  continent, stressing the importance of the platform of international  structures, in particular, the participating countries of  Francophonie. The interlocutors discussed the further intensification  of relations between Armenia and Rwanda and the prospects for  expanding and enriching the bilateral agenda, outlining the joint  steps necessary to fully realize the existing potential. The priority  areas were highlighted in the digital economy, information technology  and innovation. The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed Armenia's  readiness to initiate programs aimed at sharing experience in these  areas. Commenting on the successive steps of Armenia and Rwanda at  international platforms aimed at preventing genocides and crimes  against humanity, the foreign ministers of both countries stressed  the importance of consolidating the efforts of the international  community in the progress of the prevention agenda.

Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also met with his Maltese  counterpart Carmelo Abela.  The agenda of meeting included a number  of issues related to the organization of reciprocal high-level  visits, active cooperation in international structures, expansion of  legal the framework. Both sides highlighted the importance of  boosting trade and economic collaboration, business contacts, as well  as promoting cultural cooperation.  

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan touched upon the steps aimed at creating  favorable environment for Government's agenda, as well as the  development of its driving force - the spheres of innovation and  technology. In this regard, the Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed  his interlocutor on the preparatory works for the World IT Congress  to be held in Yerevan in October. Following the meeting Zohrab  Mnatsakanyan and Carmelo Arbela signed a Memorandum of Understanding  on holding Political Consultations between the Foreign Ministry of  Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta.

With his Sudanese counterpart Al Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, Mnatsakanyan  exchanged views on the prospects for the development and enrichment  of the bilateral agenda. Among the priority directions, the Armenian  Foreign Minister noted the field of creative education, innovations  and high technologies, stressing Armenia's readiness to initiate  programs aimed at sharing experience. The interlocutors stressed the  importance of the role of a small but active Armenian community in  strengthening the bilateral agenda.  The head of the Armenian Foreign  Ministry noted that the expansion of relations between Armenia and  African continent states is one of the most important priorities of  the country's foreign policy, and the Armenian side is ready to take  practical steps in this direction in order to develop and deepen  multi-sectoral cooperation. The interlocutors also touched upon the  prospects for cooperation within the framework of international  organizations. Touching on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,  Zohrab Mnatsakanyan reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to an exclusively  peaceful settlement of the conflict through the mediation of the OSCE  Minsk Group.