On March 3, the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian arrived in Bratislava to participate at the meeting of Visegrad Four (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungry). The Foreign Ministers of Eastern Partnership Program member-countries, Germany, Catherine Ashton, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy attended the meeting, as well.

The meeting was taking place in the frames of the 20th Anniversary of the foundation of the Visegrad Group and was devoted to the perspectives, expectations and future steps of the cooperation in European Union.

During the meeting the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian addressed a speech and presented the main directions of the cooperation between Armenia and the EU, outlining Armenia’s expectations from the deepening partnership with the EU.

Responding the comments of the head of the Azeri delegation on the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue, Minister Nalbandian mentioned that the Eastern Partnership Program is not a format for the settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue or holding discussions on it. The only format established and supported by the international community is the Chairmanship of the OSCE Minks Group. In response to the misleading attempts of the Azerbaijani representative, Minister Nalbandian provided appropriate clarifications.

Edward Nalbandian met with Mikuláš Dzurinda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovak Republic in Bratislava.

A wide range of issues related to the bilateral agenda- organization of high-level visits, development of inter-parliamentary ties, expansion of legal-contractual field, intensification of cultural exchanges, steps undertaken towards the development of cooperation in the spheres of energy, education and tourism- was on the agenda of the negotiations.

Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed the invitation of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to his Slovakian counterpart.

The Ministers exchanged views on the recent development in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue. Mikuláš Dzurinda informed that Slovakia will provide the entry allowance issuing through the Polish Embassy in Yerevan. In that context, the visa facilitation process was also discussed.

The next meeting of the Armenian Foreign Minister in Bratislava was with Karel Schwarzenberg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the intensification registered in bilateral relations stressing the necessity of consolidation of positive dynamic.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic highly appreciated the establishment of the Armenian Embassy in Prague last year, mentioning that it will seriously contribute to the development of bilateral relations. Karel Schwarzenberg informed that until the opening of the Czech Embassy in Yerevan, the Czech Republic is going to delegate a diplomat on mission in one of the European Embassies in Yerevan.

The Ministers agreed on the intensification of the consultations between the Foreign Affairs Ministries of two countries and rapprochement of the cooperation in the frames of international organizations. They also discussed the steps undertaken towards the expansion of legal-contractual field.

Edward Nalbandian and Karel Schwarzenberg exchanged views related to the cooperation between Armenia and the EU, negotiations over the Association Agreement, preparatory works on starting the negotiations over the creation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone and visa facilitation.
In the evening Edward Nalbandian left for Yerevan.