Armenia's Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, is in Dublin, for the first-ever high-level visit of an Armenian official to Ireland.

Minister Oskanian met with Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and the two held a lengthy meeting focusing on many bilateral and multilateral issues. The Ministers acknowledged that the two countries – small, with few natural resources, and with large diasporas – have much in common and can cooperate in a variety of areas. They specifically discussed Armenia-Ireland cooperation within the European Union's Neighborhood Policy, citing the EUs huge potential role as a facilitator of bilateral goal-oriented collaboration. They discussed the geopolitics of the Caucasus region, including energy issues.

Minister Ahern spoke about Northern Ireland, and explained the progress that has recently been made in resolving that situation. The Armenian Foreign Minister discussed Armenia's relations with its neighbors. Minister Oskanian also briefed Minister Ahern on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution process. They agreed on the need to

Following the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Minister Oskanian went to Ireland's Parliament, and met with the members of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. He presented Armenia's political and economic development and responded to questions. Members of the Committee expressed interest in exploring the possibilities of closer cooperation.

Earlier in the day, Minister Oskanian spoke at the Institute of European Affairs, on «Armenia – Foreign Relations in a Difficult Region, at a Difficult Time.»

He also visited the Chester Beatty Library, which houses nearly 150 medieval Armenian manuscripts.

Minister Oskanian met with the leadership of the Dublin Central Library in anticipation of a photo exhibition to be opened in the Library in April on the occasion of Armenia's 15th anniversary of independence.