Monday, 25 February 2008
RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received the delegation lead by Head of Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Jan Kubish.
The parties have discussed questions of bilateral cooperation, eventual assistance to Armenia on the part of EU-member Slovakia with euro-integration endeavors, as well as other cooperation-related issues.
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia is interested in the establishment of active political dialogue and the development of economic relations with Slovakia and, as a member of the Council of Europe, Armenia completely supports the initiatives of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe under the presidency of Slovakia
's Minister for Foreign Affairs.To begin with, Head of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Jan Kubish complimented the Prime Minister on his victory in Armenia
's presidential election and wished him every success in his future activities as Head of State. Then Mr. Kubish evoked the findings of the international observers who, along with the positive trends recorded, pointed out to a number of shortcomings. He emphasized that these authoritative organizations which for last 15 years have carried out similar missions in many countries of the world and are well aware of the situation, estimate presidential elections as a step forward against the latest parliamentary elections of Armenia. This is very important for Armenia. He expressed high opinion of Serzh Sargsyan's call of moderation, addressed to all political forces in the country, which evidences the Prime Minister's willingness to solve the problems in the manner prescribed by law and through political means.At the request of his guest, Serzh Sargsyan briefed him on the post-electoral processes, the outlook for and the ongoing programs of Armenia
's cooperation with the EU and the NATO, the Armenian-Turkish relations and the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the need for strengthening the Armenian-Slovak ties. With reference to bilateral trade and economic exchanges, the parties stressed that despite the available potential, they are still insufficiently advanced. Serzh Sargsyan and Jan Kubish also mentioned the importance of providing a corresponding legal framework for the furtherance of economic cooperation, creation of most favorable conditions for activating the ties between the representatives of Armenian and Slovak business circles, as well as the realization of investments.
