17.07.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The direction of the European and European-Atlantic integration remains one of the priorities of the foreign policy of Armenia. As was reported to MEDIAMAX in the press service of the government of Armenia, Armenian premier Andranik Margarian stated this today at the meeting with the Chairperson-in-Office of OSCE, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
The Armenian premier said that Armenia highly assesses Austria’s efforts to increase the role of OSCE. Being the member of OSCE Armenia strives to promote the strengthening of the European security, said Margarian.
Touching upon the issue of the Karabakh settlement, the Prime Minister of Armenia noted that official Yerevan is ready to take a compromise solution in this matter. Margarian noted that such compromise settlement must exclude the possibility of territorial exchange between Armenia and Azerbaijan and must be acceptable for the authorities and the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
According to the premier, Armenia is ready today to develop the regional economic cooperation, as well as to promote the establishing of a regional security system.
Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner stated that Austria is being optimistic and expects that the regional conflicts in the South Caucasus will soon be solved. She noted the importance of the direct contacts of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and expressed hope that with the support of the OSCE Minsk Group they will bring to a long-term and complex settlement of the Karabakh issue.
Discussing the bilateral Armenian-Austrian relations, the sides agreed about the necessity of activating the economic relations. -0-
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