The meeting between Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria took place on June 25.

Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian expressed hope that the visit of Minister Spindelegger would give a new impulse to the development of bilateral relations between Armenia and Austria, as well as to the improvement of cooperation within other formats. He also mentioned that Armenia highly appreciates the relations with Austria and is ready to undertake efficient steps aimed at the intensification of political dialogue, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

“Armenia attaches great importance to the development of comprehensive relations with Austria and the visit of high-level delegation headed by you creates solid prerequisites for that,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

Minister Spindelegger mentioned that he is glad to visit Armenia, especially attaching importance to the fact that this is the first visit of the Austrian Foreign Minister to Armenia on bilateral format.
The two Ministers discussed issues concerning relations between Armenia and the European Union, ways of strengthening and expanding interaction, as well as joint steps to be undertaken for that purpose. The sides underlined with satisfaction that effective cooperation is being implemented between Armenia and the European Union in a number of formats.

Within the context of the discussion on trade and economic relations both Ministers highly appreciated the holding of the Armenian-Austrian Business Forum in Yerevan, which creates good opportunities for the establishment of new contacts and the enhancement and enlargement of existing cooperation.

Speaking about the interaction in the area of culture, the sides mentioned that the Memorandum signed this year between the Ministries of Culture and Education and Science of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture of Austria creates a solid prerequisite for the deepened cooperation in that area.

The agenda of the negotiations also included discussions on relations of Armenia with its neighbours and regional issues. On the guest’s request, Edward Nalbandian presented the recent developments in the settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue, touched upon the possible consequences on the negotiations process of the Azerbaijani latest provocation in the Karabakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact. Both Ministers mentioned that the peaceful settlement of the conflict has no alternative.
The meeting was followed by a joint press-conference of Edward Nalbandian and Michael Spindelegger.

The Foreign Minister of Austria also visited Tsitsernakaberd (Genocide Memorial), where he laid a wreath at the Monument of the Armenian Genocide Victims.