Bilateral agreements have been signed

On November 10, after the conclusion of state visit of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Hungary, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian left for Switzerland for a short official visit.

Upon arriving in Bern, Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

The agenda of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Switzerland included issues concerninga different areas of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues.
The two mentioned with satisfaction that during the last year, bilateral relations were developed unprecedentedly and the meeting between Presidents of Armenia and Switzerland Serzh Sargsyan and Hans-Rudolf Merz, dozen of negotiations held between Foreign Ministers and the mediation of Switzerland in the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations are the evidence of that. The development of relations is symbolized by the appointment of Charles Aznavour as an Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as by the foundation of the Swiss Diplomatic Mission in Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian and Micheline Calmy-Rey highly appreciated the dynamics of the development of Armenian-Swiss relationship and attached importance to the necessity of high-level mutual visits, the enlargement of legal field as a guarantee for the further strengthening of comprehensive cooperation.

Attaching importance to the cooperation established between the two Foreign Ministries, Armenian Foreign Minister and his Swiss counterpart agreed to organize regular consultations between the Ministries headed by them, as well as discussed the possibility of enlarging cooperation in the international organizations. Within the context of Switzerland’s upcoming presidency in the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, the two exchanged views on the issues concerning the organization’s agenda and activity.

The sides agreed to undertake steps aimed at the promotion of economic relations with attaching importance to the initiatives of business circles in that field.

Touching upon the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Switzerland’s mediation Edward Nalbandian expressed gratitude for the mediation efforts. By Armenian Foreign Minister’s definition, Switzerland has taken a mission, which at the same time demanded determination and restraint, imagination, consideration and patience, and the mediator country realized its mission with honour.

Edrward Nalbandian and Micheline Calmy-Rey touched upon the issues and developments of the South Caucasus region.
Within the framework of the visit Edward Nalbandian and Micheline Calmy-Rey signed Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Swiss Federal Council on constant air communication and Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Swiss Federal Council on the abolishment of visa requirement for the holders of diplomatic passports.

The ceremony was followed by the joint press conference of Ministers.

On November 11, Foreign Minister of Armenia returned Armenia.