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OPENING OF BORDER IS NOT A GIFT

Politics

The RA Foreign Affairs Ministry department released information regarding the visit of RA Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandyan to Istanbul.

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan paid a one-day visit to Istanbul yesterday as Foreign Minister of the chairing country of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

The minister declared the plans and activities of the organization in the upcoming months during the session of the representatives of the BSEC International Secretariat, BSEC member and observer countries and adjunct bodies.

The RA Foreign Minister remarked that Armenia has taken the BSEC presidency in a period of financial crisis and obstacles facing the economies of countries around the world and the member countries must work together to overcome those obstacles.

Touching upon the priorities of the Armenian presidency, Edward Nalbandyan underlined the development of transport infrastructures in the region as the main goal. During Armenia’s presidency, one of the supreme issues of the BSEC is also going to be cooperation in the fields of energy, environmental protection and agriculture and it is foreseen to hold a series of meetings with ministers of the BSEC member countries coordinating the mentioned fields.

After the session, Edward Nalbandyan held a press conference with nearly 100 Turkish and world mass media representatives.

In response to the questions regarding the regulation of Turkish-Armenian ties , Minister Nalbandyan remarked that the complete regulation of ties is to the benefit of both countries and nations and the Turkish-Armenian dialogue is aimed at establishing diplomatic ties and opening the border and it should not be observed as Turkey’s gift to Armenia because Turkey also has its interests.

The same day Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacyan. After the meeting, Ali Babacyan offered dinner in honor of Nalbandyan.

In the more than two-hour long meeting, Ministers Nalbandyan and Babacyan touched upon issues concerning the normalization of bilateral ties. The sides exchanged ideas about the Cooperation and Security Platform initiative. During the briefing that took place after the meeting, Edward Nalbandyan and Ali Babacyan valued their meeting as useful and constructive. The Ministers came to the agreement to continue efforts to normalize bilateral ties.