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 On May 19 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian arrived in Chicago to take part in the meeting of the heads of the countries of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to be held in the frames of the NATO Summit.

Foreign Ministry information department said on the same day Edward Nalbandian and Hranush Hakobyan, the RA Minister of Diaspora, who arrived in Chicago to have meetings with the organizations of the Armenian communities, met with the representatives of the Armenian community in Chicago. The heads of the religious and political organizations of the Armenian community, as well as over four hundred representatives of the community attended the meeting.

In the course of the meeting, Edward Nalbandian addressed a speech, conveying the greetings of the RA President. In particular Minister Nalbandian said, “Those days the NATO Summit is being held in Chicago, in the frames of which the meeting of the heads of the countries of the Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan would be held. The head of our country was invited to take part in it, as well. On this occasion the President of the Republic was looking forward to meeting with you, the Armenian community in Chicago, as well.

The draft of the Chicago Summit declaration includes general formulation on the settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova, which, in spite of some changes in the Lisbon declaration, is in contradiction with the approaches on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue of the internationally mandated OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Those approaches were repeatedly stated by the Presidents of the United States, Russia and France. This formulation is not in line with the statements and decisions on the settlement of the issue adopted in recent years. It can not only impede the process of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, but also endanger the fragile situation in the region, in particular against the background of unprecedented increase of Azerbaijan’s military expenses and bellicose rhetoric of its leadership.

Taking into account this concern, the President of the Republic of Armenia made a decision not to participate in the Chicago meeting. ”

In his speech, Minister Nalbandian presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, as well as stressed the importance of the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. Edward Nalbandian touched upon the results of recently held parliamentary elections in Armenia. Minister Nalbandian stressed the importance of the American-Armenians’ contribution to the strengthening of the Armenian-American cooperation, as well as the Diaspora’s contribution to Armenia’s development.