YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan) – Armenia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Arzoumanian–as part of his Middle East tour–arrived in Egypt–Monday–where he met with President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak.
Arzoumanian informed Mubarak on Armenia’s efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict peacefully. In additions the two officials–discussed the current economic and social conditions of Armenia–and the foreign minister briefed Mubarak on the economic restructuring process–privatization and banking developmen’s.
Discussing bilateral relations–the Egyptian president emphasized the necessity to focus attention on trade relation between the two countries. He also noted the importance of opening a direct air corridor between Armenia and Egypt–as well as establishing close cooperative ties in the fields of science and technology.
Speaking on behalf of Levon Ter-Petrosyan–Arzoumanian invited Mubarak to Armenia. In response–Mubarak sent an acceptance message with Arzoumanian–asking the foreign minister "to transmit to his brother–President Levon Ter-Petrosyan–the warmest greetings and best wishes."
Alexander Arzoumanian also met with his Egyptian counterpart Amr Musa–at which time the two sides signed several bilateral agreemen’s on cooperative ventures in the sciences–culture and education.
Prior to arriving in Egypt–Arzoumanian visited with Jordanian Foreign Minister Kamel Naser–and the two signed a protocol–Sunday–on consultations between Armenian and Jordanian foreign ministries and a protocol of intentions between Armenian and Jordanian Governmen’s.
During a TV interview given after the ceremony–the two foreign ministers noted that the signed documen’s established a firm base for cooperation between the two countries.