Good afternoon,

I am pleased to welcome my counterpart, Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

It’s a very important visit as there was no visit of Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in the recent ten years. We are happy to welcome the Foreign Minister and his delegation.

Today we had an opportunity to talk about our passed way, as for twenty years we have had diplomatic relations between Armenia and Luxembourg. We talked about the expansion of legal framework, development of trade and economic relations and the cooperation in cultural, educational and scientific spheres.

We also touched upon the cooperation in the international organizations and holding of consultations between the MFAs of the two countries, including a number of regional and global issues.

Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the developments in the frames of the European Union and European countries.

We talked about the relations between Armenia and the EU. I presented the main priorities of our foreign policy.

I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Asselborn. We would have an opportunity to continue to exchange views today, in the evening.

I would like to pass the floor to Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Question, Mediamax New Agency: I would like to address my first question to Mister Nalbandian. Minister Nalbandian, an information spread in media according to which the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to you where he expressed his willingness to normalize the relations with Armenia, but at the same time he threats that the suspension of the relations could have a negative impact on Armenia. How would you comment it? Did you receive any letter and what is your response to such a letter?

Edward Nalbandian: The matter was not whether or not there was such a letter. The Hungarian side has published the letter of the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Janos Martonyi.

You know that the Azeri-Hungarian deal shocked the international community and the international community gave its unanimous assessment.

What is Azerbaijan saying today? What we are hearing today from Azerbaijan is no less shocking.

I have to say with regret, that what we are hearing from Hungary is no less shocking. And what is Hungary saying? The representatives of the Hungarian Government and other officials are saying that the deal was transparent, while the Azeri officials at the highest level are claiming that secret negotiations were held.

The Hungarian side is saying that they were not aware that the Azeri side would release Safarov upon his arrival in Baku, but the Azeri high-ranking officials are arguing that the Hungarian side was well-aware about it.

The Hungarian side sent notes and letters to the embassies accredited in Budapest expressing its indignation over Azerbaijan’s decision to release Safarov. But the same letter is concluded with the Hungarian side’s commitment to continue the development of strategic relations with Azerbaijan based on mutual trust. Probably that is the style of the Hungarian side to express its indignation.

The Hungarian side is saying that the decision to extradite Safarov to Azerbaijan is in line with the Strasbourg Convention, the Convention of the Council of Europe. You know that the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the deal abuses that convention.

This is the reality. The reactions voiced from the Hungarian side are attempts to justify what happened. They are claiming that the Hungarian side takes no responsibility for that deal. The reason why Armenia made a decision to suspend the relations with Hungary is due to Hungary’s responsibility for that deal.

Question, Radio Liberty: My question is for Mr. Nalbandian. Mr. Nalbandian, Armenia suspended the relations with Hungary and particularly, among the high level representatives of European institutions, Füle, Ashton have stated these days that the extradition had taken place within the frameworks of international organizations.

How does Armenia asses this approach of the European institutions. And again, in these conditions I should turn back to the Eastern Partnership: How do you imagine the further development of Eastern Partnership program?

Edward Nalbandian: The approach of the international community was a unanimous approach and a united reaction.

There is no international institution that did not express its negative approach towards this process.

From the European Union not only the statement you refer to was made, but also other statements were made including the statements by the EU member states.
During these last days I received dozens of telephone calls from the Foreign Ministers of different states, including the EU member states, who have expressed their unequivocal approach towards this Azerbaijani-Hungarian deal. There is no country that can express its support to what has happened, no state that would support Azerbaijan.

Who can express its support towards Azerbaijan in these conditions? Perhaps the staff of the Psychiatric Hospital No. 1, that had sent a letter to the President of Azerbaijan and was on the presidential website of Azerbaijan for a couple of days.