On February 16, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian started his visit to Poland by a meeting with Radosław Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland.

A tête-à-tête meeting between Foreign Ministers of the two countries was followed by talks with the delegation.  A wide range of issues concerning Armenian-Polish relations, as well as regional and international issues were discussed.

Minister Nalbandian and Sikorski praised the regular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries as a format of effective cooperation.

Edward Nalbandian and Radosław Sikorski discussed the steps to be undertaken towards the deepening of bilateral partnership in the areas of economy, education and culture. Particularly, the two exchanged views on the ways of development of economic relations and realization of cultural exchanges.

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Poland had detailed talks on the process of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and steps to be undertaken in that area. Minister Nalbandian welcomed the EU “Eastern Partnership” initiative and said that conclusion of free trade agreement with the EU, as well as steps to be undertaken toward the facilitation of visa regime with the EU countries will deepen cooperation.

Edward Nalbandian presented to his Polish counterpart recent developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) peace process and possibilities of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The two mentioned that peaceful political settlement of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) conflict has no alternative.

Radosław Sikorski accepted Edward Nalbandian’s invitation to visit Yerevan and said that he intends to visit Armenin in 2009.

After the meeting, Ministers Nalbandian and Sikorski signed a Memorandum on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Poland in the area of rapprochement with Europe.

The signing ceremony was followed by the joint press conference.
In the evening, Radosław Sikorski hosted an official dinner in honour of Edward Nalbandian.

On the same day Edward Nalbandian visited the Warsaw University, where he delivered a speech on Armenia’s foreign policy for the teaching staff and students. In response to the question on settlement process of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue Edward Nalbandian said that Azerbaijan’s disregard of provisions of the documents signed by its own leadership, the ongoing militaristic statements, the unleashing of arms race, the obvious violations of armaments limits by the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the efforts to justify and motivate possible use of force, propaganda of national hatred not only hamper the negotiation process, but also creates a serious threat for regional stability and security, which requires an adequate response of the international community.

On February 17, Edward Nalbandian is expected to have meetings with Marshal of the Sejm Bronisław Komorowski and Marshal of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz.