Foreign Minister of Armenia meets with Estonian President, Speaker of Parliament and Foreign Minister

23 November, 2008

On November 20 in the evening, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian has arrived in Estonia with an official visit.
Upon arriving in Tallinn Minister Nalbandian left for the Estonian Parliament, where he met with Ene Ergma, Speaker of Riigikogu (Parliament).


In her welcoming remarks Ene Ergma mentioned that she always has the warmest feelings for Armenia and the Armenian nation and on behalf of Riigikogu expressed the determination to promote comprehensive development of bilateral relations.
In his turn Edward Nalbandian emphasized that Armenia intends to strengthen and deepen friendly relations with Estonia and to undertake specific steps in that direction.
The two touched upon issues concerning the activation of cooperation between the Parliaments of two countries, the activities of interparliamentary friendly groups.
Ene Ergman and Edward Nalbandian exchanged views on bilateral partnership in the areas of science, education and culture.
After the meeting held in the Parliament Edward Nalbandian visited the Armenian Church in Tallinn where he met with the members of the National Council Administration of the Armenian community.


On November 21 Edward Nalbandian was received by President of Estonia Hendrik Ilves.
In the course of the meeting President Ilves and Minister Nalbandian touched upon issues concerning the activation of bilateral relations. The two mentioned that legal field between two countries creates opportunities to undertake joint steps aimed at the enlargement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Armenia and Estonia.

Hendrik Ilves stressed that Estonia supports the country's aspirations with regard to the European Union.


On the same day Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian met with his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet.
In the course of the meeting they discussed wide range of issues concerning the development of relations between two countries, as well as regional and international issues.
Ministers attached importance to regular consultations between two Foreign Ministries as a successful format of cooperation.

Urmas Paet thanked Armenia for assistance in the safe return home of Estonian citizens from Georgia during the August events and qualified it as an expression of friendly relations.

Ministers discussed steps which should be undertaken in the direction of deepening of partnership in economic, educational and cultural areas. Particularly they exchanged ideas on organizing business forum, signing of memorandum on cooperation between YSU and Tartu University and realization of cultural exchanges.
The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Estonia had a substantial talks on the process of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and steps to be undertaken in that field. In this regard Minister Nalbandian underlined the agreements reached during President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Brussels and stressed the expectations of the Armenian side on assignment of agreement on Free Trade with the EU, as well as steps to be undertaken in the direction of simplifying of visa regime with EU countries and possible support of Baltic states in that issue.
On the request of the Estonian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented recent developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) peace process and perspectives of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.


Urmas Paet accepted the invitation of Edward Nalbandian to visit Armenia and mentioned that he is planning to visit Armenia in the first part of 2009.
The meeting between Foreign Ministers was followed by joint press conference; afterwards Urmas Paet hosted an official dinner in honour of Edward Nalbandian.
On the same day Edward Nalbandian concluded his visit to Estonia and returned Yerevan.

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