On July 1-3 Minister Edward Nalbandian was in Helsinki on a working visit by the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Finland, OSCE chairman-in office Alexander Stubb.

During the visit Minister Nalbandian had meetings with the Foreign Minister of Finland Alexander Stubb, the Special Envoy of the OSCE chairman-in office Heikki Talvitie and the president of the General Commission of Finland’s Parliament Erkki Tuomiojan. During the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Finland and OSCE acting President Alexander Stubb, Minister Nalbandian mentioned about the similarities of Armenia and Finland and the potential of development of the relations and noted that it is giving an opportunity take measures for activation of the cooperation between our countries in different areas.

The Ministers Nalbandian and Stubb discussed also the possibilities of extension of cooperation of our two countries in international organizations.

By the request of the Finnish Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented the results of the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in St Petersburg in early June 2008, and the discussions with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs during their recent visit to the region. Minister Stubb mentioned that he totally supports the activities of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and believes that Nagorno Karabakh peace process must be solved only in a peaceful means.

The ministers exchanged opinions on Armenia – European Union relations and their prospects, as well as about reform of he OSCE.

By the request of Edward Nalbandian, Alexander Stubb presented the situation and the possible developments occurred in EU after the rejection of Lisbon treaty in Ireland.

On the meeting with the president of the General Commission of Finnish Parliament Erkki Tuomiojan Minister Nalbandian discussed issues concerning the deepening of interparliamentary relations and the cooperation of Armenian and Finnish MPs at the parliamentary assemblies of international organizations in.