On May 19 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian arrived in Chicago to take part in the meeting of the heads of the countries of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to be held in the frames of the NATO Summit.

On the same day Edward Nalbandian and Hranush Hakobyan, the RA Minister of Diaspora, who arrived in Chicago to have meetings with the organizations of the Armenian communities, met with the representatives of the Armenian community in Chicago. The heads of the religious and political organizations of the Armenian community, as well as over four hundred representatives of the community attended the meeting.

In the course of the meeting, Edward Nalbandian addressed a speech, conveying the greetings of the RA President. In particular Minister Nalbandian said, “NATO Summit is taking place these days in Chicago and within that framework there will be a meeting of the countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. As a leader of a country taking part in the Afghanistan peacekeeping mission, the President of Armenia has been invited to that meeting.

Planning his trip to the US, President Sargsyan was also looking forward wholeheartedly to meet with the Armenian Community of Chicago.

 

In the draft Summit Declaration, while addressing the resolution of the conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova, only one principle of the International Law is included. This approach contradicts the statements and decisions of the OSCE, related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and goes against the approach of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs that has the mandate of the international community. That very position has been repeatedly expressed by the Presidents of the USA, Russia and France. Therefore not only it can impede the peace process but also endanger the fragile situation in the region, especially taking into account the unprecedented surge in military expenditures by Azerbaijan and bellicose rhetoric of its leaders.

Because of those concerns, the President of Armenia hasn’t made a decision on participation in the meeting.”

In his speech, Minister Nalbandian presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, as well as stressed the importance of the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. Edward Nalbandian touched upon the results of recently held parliamentary elections in Armenia. Minister Nalbandian stressed the importance of the American-Armenians’ contribution to the strengthening of the Armenian-American cooperation, as well as the Diaspora’s contribution to Armenia’s development.