9 04.06.14 - Welcoming ceremony for President of Switzerland, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter 7 04.06.14 - Joint press conference of Armenian and Swiss Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Didier Burkhalter President, OSCE CiO talk Genocide, Karabakh, Ankara blockade June 4, 2014 - 17:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, President of the Swiss Confederation, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter is on an official visit to Armenia. Today (June 4) Burkhalter visited the Genocide memorial in Tsitsernakaberd to commemorate the victims of the 1915 massacres. Later, presidential residence hosted an official meeting, followed by narrow-format talks. As President Serzh Sargsyan told a news conference after the meeting, "we discussed a wide range of issues related to Armenian-Swiss cooperation and touched upon regional problems." The President noted that Armenia and Switzerland have substantial relations and parliamentary and diplomatic contacts between the two countries are active, Panorama.am reported. “Switzerland has implemented programs of major importance to Armenia. We positively assessed the current level of trade cooperation between Armenia and Switzerland. Switzerland is Armenia’s fourth biggest trade partner,” Sargsyan said. The Armenian President said that during the meeting they also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “Constant violations of the ceasefire hinder the negotiating process,” he said. The President further thanked Switzerland for recognition of the Armenian Genocide and adherence to protection of human rights. Dwelling on Armenian-Turkish normalization, the President said that Turkey refused to ratify Protocols with Armenia and Ankara's illegal blockade of Armenia should be at the focus of attention of all international organizations. Didier Burkhalter said for his part that Armenia and Switzerland have friendly relations and Switzerland aims to expand trade and economic ties with Armenia. He also said that his country is thankful to Armenia for its support to Switzerland within the OSCE. Burkhalter stressed that Switzerland supports the OSCE Minsk Group efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. 3 04.06.14 - Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan receives President of Switzerland, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. The Armenian-Turkish Protocols The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation. The OSCE Minsk Group The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States. The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group; Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping forces. Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |