On April 11 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met Karel Schwarzenberg, the first Deputy Prime-Minister of Czech Republic and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was in Armenia on an official visit.

Welcoming the guest, Edward Nalbandian noted that in recent years the relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic entered a qualitatively new phase: "In recent years, we have been able to expand the legal framework significantly, which is an additional incentive for a dynamically developing interaction," said Nalbandian.

Expressing his gratitude for the invitation and warm reception, the Czech Foreign Minister said that the progress achieved in the Armenian-Czech relations is quite obvious, which is reflected in the regularity of high-level political dialogue, inter-parliamentary active communications, and stressed that the time has come to focus on the deepening and expansion of economic cooperation. In this regard the importance of the presence of Czech businessmen in the delegation of Minister Schwarzenberg was highlighted, as well as the holding of Armenian-Czech business forum.

During the meeting the sides discussed in detail the bilateral steps to be undertaken in order to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields. The expansion of the legal framework of economic field was noted as important as well as the promotion of cultural exchanges.

They also touched upon the Armenia-EU cooperation and the achieved progress by Armenia in the framework of Eastern Partnership launched in Prague, especially the Association Agreement, which entered the final stage and the negotiations concerning the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

Edward Nalbandian presented to his Czech counterpart the latest developments of the Karabakh conflict in details, the efforts undertaken by the international community and Armenia in that direction. In this context the first Deputy Prime Minister of Czech Republic reiterated the support for the resolution of the conflict through peaceful measures.

Before the meeting Edward Nalbandian and Karel Schwarzenberg opened the Armenian-Czech business forum.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference.