Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian departed yesterday for Australia on a formal visit, RA MFA press office reported. Today the Armenian FM met with the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Alexander Downer to discuss the prospects of the Armenian-Australian relations and exchange views on the international situation and regional developments. Vartan Oskanian familiarized the interlocutor with the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process and Armenia's relations with the neighbor states. The parties noted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and activation of trade and economic ties. The Foreign Ministers also voiced satisfaction with the Armenia-Australia cooperation within international structures. Upon completion of the meeting Minister Oskanian invited his Australian counterpart to Armenia.

Within the visit framework the Armenian FM met with Minister for Vocational and Technical Education Gary Hardgrave, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, Minister for Human Services Joe Hockey MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade, Senator Sandy Macdonald and Chairman of the Armenian-Australian parliamentary friendship Maris Pein. Besides, Vartan Oskanian met with leaders of the Armenian community of Australia and attended the liturgy in the Armenian Church of St. Harutyun in Sidney, where he delivered a speech, and also met with the chairman of the Armenian-Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Armenian media.