YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. On May 2 the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian who is on a working visit to Helsinki, met the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Finland Timo Soini, the Press Service of Armenian Foreign Ministry told “Armenpress”.

The interlocutors agreed to intensify the high-level mutual visits, consultations between Foreign Ministries of two states and make closer the cooperation within the framework of international organizations.

Ministers thoroughly talked about wide range issues of bilateral relations. They stressed the importance to promote contact between the Parliaments. Ministers exchanged views on issues related to the development of cooperation in economic, cultural, educational and other sectors. They highlighted the necessity to expand the legal framework.  

They discussed the relations between Armenia and the European Union, the negotiations over Armenia-EU new legal framework. Armenian Foreign Minister stated that Armenia stresses the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU.

Nalbandian presented to his Finland counterpart the aggressive military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on early of April and the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to overcome the consequences of Azerbaijani actions.

Edward Nalbandian highlighted that despite the calls by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the international community to respect the 1994 and 1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, Azerbaijan continues to violate ceasefire bringing heavy military equipment and soldiers in the line of contact, strengthening its militant rhetoric and carrying out provocative propaganda in the international platforms. Armenian Minister said Azerbaijan with such measures tries to blame the Armenian side in what it does now and conducts new military attacks  which can have unpredictable negative impact on the whole region. “It’s time for the international community to take concrete steps to stop Azerbaijan”, Edward Nalbandian stated.

Minister Nalbandian stated that Armenia is committed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, and there is a need to apply the suggestion by the Co-Chairs which is to install investigative mechanisms  and to guarantee the unconditional implementation of 1994 and 1995 trilateral termless ceasefire agreements to restore the negotiations which have no alternative.

Timo Soini stated that Finland completely supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries and their initiatives towards the provision of respective environment for negotiations. He added that Karabakh conflict can be resolved only with peaceful means, with negotiations.

Foreign Minister of Armenia and Finland discussed urgent regional and international issues such as the implementation of the agreements on the Iranian nuclear program, the situation in the Middle East, migration crisis, fight against terrorism.

Edward Nalbandian invited Timo Soini to Armenia.

At the end of the meeting the Ministers held joint press conference.