On July 3, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian meets with Dora Bakoyannis, Foreign Minister of Greece, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office who was in Yerevan on a working visit by Minister Nalbandian’s invitation.

In his welcoming remarks, Minister Nalbandian stressed that Armenian and Greek people have a centuries-old traditional friendship and that he is happy to greet his Greek counterpart on Armenian soil.

Minister Nalbandian highly appreciated the Greek activity as the OSCE-Chairing country and stressed the Greek initiatives aimed at the strengthening of the European security and the enhancement the efficiency of the organization.

Edward Nalbandian said that Armenia attaches great importance to its membership to the OSCE and will continue its active involvement in the organization’s activity.

Expressing her gratitude for a warm reception, Greek Foreign Minister said that she feels herself in Yerevan as at home, since both nations have common history and traditions. By Mrs. Bakoyannis’s definition, Armenia is an important country for the European security, the evidence of which was Armenia’s significant contribution in the discussions on the European security held in Corfu last week.

During the meeting, Minister Nalbandian and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bakoyannis exchanged views on the activity of the organization.

The two touched upon the recent developments in the negotiation process of the settlement of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue and stressed the Minsk Group’s important role in the process of the settlement of the conflict.

Armenian and Greek Foreign Ministers also discussed issues concerning Armenian-Turkish and Greek-Turkish relations. Dora Bakoyannis presented to his Armenian counterpart the efforts taken on the settlement of Cyprus issue.

After the meeting, the Ministers signed an Air Service Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hellenic Republic .

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

The same day, Ministers Nalbandian and Bakoyannis participated in the opening ceremony of new premises of of the OSCE Yerevan office.