On July 12 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received Lamberto Zannier, the OSCE Secretary General and his delegation who arrived in Yerevan in the frames of a regional visit.

Welcoming the guest, Edward Nalbandian mentioned, “The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has significant role in maintaining security and peace in the area from Vancouver to Vladivostok, and Armenia from the beginning of its membership to the Organization, has been actively involved in all three dimensions of the Organization”

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed Armenia’s support to the reforms of the Organization and the initiatives which are aimed at raising of effectiveness and reputation of the Organization. Expressing gratitude for the reception and high assessment of the Organization’s activities, Lamberto Zannier assured that the Organization would continue its activities to maintain security and cooperation in Europe.

The interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the productive activities of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, noting that it has a great contribution to thereforms carried out in various spheres of public administration.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Secretary General touched upon the process and results of the parliamentary election sheld in Armenia. In this context, OSCE Secretary General mentioned that in general the elections took a good turn and the international observers gave respectively positive assessment. Lamberto Zannier expressed hope that the suggestions made by the international observers would be taken into consideration and would be another impetus for organizing upcoming presidential elections at a higher level next year.

The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was on the agenda of the talks, as well. In this respect, it was mutually underlined that the peaceful settlement of the issue has no alternative and should be continued in the frames of the current format of the negotiations. The OSCE Secretary General expressed his support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and their initiatives aimed at the
strengthening of confidence between the sides.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference.