On June 4 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met Didier Burkhalter, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, who arrived in Yerevan.

Welcoming the guest Edward Nalbandian said, “Over the past years Armenia and Switzerland reached significant progress in broadening of bilateral cooperation in various fields, and we are full of hope to further deepen and develop our relations through joint efforts.”

“We have very good and friendly relations, strong legal framework, our business ties are expanding, the visit by the Swiss businessmen is anticipated, which I hope, will result in attraction of investments from Switzerland to Armenia”, mentioned the President of the Swiss Confederation.

Minister Nalbandian added that ”Armenia contributes to the Swiss Chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and is ready to have its input to the realization of the initiatives of the Swiss Chairmanship, among which, of course, we attach importance to the efforts exerted for the enhancement of security and stability, implementation of confidence-building measures.''

During the meeting, the sides touched upon the directions of the cooperation in the OSCE framework,OSCE agenda issue, steps to increase the role and effectiveness of the Organization.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia presented to the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE the latest developments of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, efforts exerted by Armenia and the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE highlighted that the Swiss Chairmanship unequivocally supports the OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ activities, expressed regret that so far it has not been possible to implement the mediators’ proposal to create a mechanism of investigation of ceasefire violations.

The sides exchanges views over the Ukrainian crisis and ways of its settlement.

During the meeting Foreign Minister and the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE touched upon the activity of OSCE Office in Yerevan, in which respect Foreign Minister Nalbandian highly commended the work implemented by the Office and attached importance to their continuation.

After the meeting, Edward Nalbandian and Didier Burkhalter signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation on holding of consultations between the two ministries.

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