YEREVAN (Armenpress–Noyan Tapan)–Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received a German Bundestag delegation on January 9–led by Volker Ruhe–the deputy chairman of the Christian-Democratic and Christian-Socialist Union’s parliamentary faction.
According to the Armenian foreign ministry–the importance of regional economic cooperation was emphasized in the course of the meeting and prospects for its future development were discussed.
Minister Oskanian emphasized the economic and political integration of the region–expressing hope that it will promote improvement of relations among the region’s countries.
At the request of Ruhe–Minister Oskanian presented the current stage of the Karabakh conflict t–stressing that Armenia’seeks a solution that would help strengthen peace in the region.
In response to Ruhe’s question about Turkey’s role in the region–Oskanian underlined the fact that Turkey’s position toward Armenia has not so far promoted regulation of the Karabakh conflict–but moreover–it has hindered the establishment of security and confidence in the region.
In the course of the meeting the two sides also discussed Russia’s role in regional developmen’s. Oskanian stressed the positive role Russia has played in the maintenance of peace in the South Caucasus.
Minister of Defense Serge Sargssian also held a meeting with Volker Ruje. The sides discussed the current state of Armenian-German relations and prospects for their development. Views were exchanged on possible ways of settling the Karabakh conflict–problems of regional security–and on Armenian-Turkish relations. Minister Sargssian informed the delegation members on the state of Armenia’s armed forces and the process of army formation.