On November 17, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian met with the Foreign Relations Minister of Brazil Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, who arrived in Yerevan on an official visit.

The meeting started with a tête-à-tête conversation, then was continued in an expanded format, with the participation of delegations.

Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian noted that this visit takes place in the jubilee year of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries and it is a good opportunity to evaluate the quarter century history of the interstate relations, discuss programmes and reach agreements aimed at further deepening of bilateral cooperation.

Thanking for the reception, Aloysio Nunes Ferreira noted that Armenians and Brazilians historically have strong relationships based on people to people and cultural ties, adding that Brazil is willing to strengthen bilateral relations in different spheres.

At the meeting, the Ministers highlighted the established bilateral political dialogue, underlined the necessity of expanding the legal framework. The course of implementation of the agreements reached with president Temer during the visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Brazil in August 2016 was discussed.

The interlocutors touched upon a wide range of issues of the Armenian-Brazilian relations agenda, exchanged views on closer cooperation in the international fora, and consultations between the Foreign Ministries. The sides had a comprehensive discussion on the issues of intensification of trade and economic relations, cooperation in scientific, educational and cultural spheres.

The Ministers noted that effective cooperation had been established within the inter-parliamentary framework. Both sides highlighted the importance of developing the decentralized cooperation, and establishing possible cooperation between Yerevan and San Paolo.

Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that the geographical distance gradually loses its role of an inhibiting factor, stressing in this regard the importance of liberalisation of the visa regime between Armenia and Brazil two years ago, which opens new, easier and broader opportunities for the intensification of mutual visits and strengthening of ties between the peoples of the two countries.

Speaking about the important role of the Brazilian-Armenian community in expanding cooperation between the two friendly countries, Foreign Minister of Brazil also mentioned that the Armenian community of Brazil has made a significant contribution to the development of different spheres of public life in the country.

Throughout the meeting, a number of urgent international and regional issues were touched upon.

Edward Nalbandian briefed the guest on the joint efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries aimed at advancing the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, highlighting importance of the impartial and balanced position on the issue and the support of the proposals by intermediary countries. Foreign Minister of Brazil reaffirmed his country's support for the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

At the end of the meeting, Edward Nalbandian and Aloysio Nunes Ferreira signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the Republic of Armenia and the government of the Federative Republic of Brazil on trade and investment cooperation

The meeting of the Ministers was followed by a joint press conference.