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Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released the remarks of Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian at the joint press conference held with Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. The full statements is as follows:

“Dear Minister Alfano, dear colleague,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all I would like to thank Minister Alfano for the invitation, the warm welcome and for hosting the first Session of Armenia-Italy Intergovernmental Commission.

Today we had very productive discussions with my colleague on various issues of our bilateral agenda, as well as cooperation within international formats. Though recently high-level visits between our countries have intensified, we mutually agree that there is still a great potential that needs to be utilized for further development of our political dialogue. With this aim, together with my colleague, we highlighted, in particular, the importance of holding regular political consultations between the Foreign Ministry of Armenia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

During last year's visit to Armenia of His Excellency Paolo Gentiloni, in his capacity as the Foreign Minister, we together agreed on the establishment of the Armenia-Italy Intergovernmental Commission, and we are pleased to hold its first session today in Rome. We are looking forward to the next meeting in these format that we will be happy to host in Armenia to take stock of our deliberations and review the tangible results. Moreover, we are going to hold Armenian-Italian business forum after this press conference. The effective operation of Intergovernmental Commission and the business forum will create new opportunities for our economies, will explore new sectors for cooperation and investments.

We also touched upon the possibilities to expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, among others. Last year with His Excellency Paolo Gentiloni we signed the Joint Declaration on the Creation in Armenia of a Regional Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. Today an executive program of cultural, educational and scientific cooperation between the Governments of Armenia and Italy for the years 2017-2020 will be signed.

We praised our interaction in the defense area, notably Armenia’s participation in the Italian peacekeeping contingent in Lebanon within UNIFIL.

During discussions we attached importance to the development of inter-parliamentary ties. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with several members of the Italian Parliament. We exchanged views on new opportunities and possibilities for cooperation on the inter-parliamentary level.

We both value the expansion of decentralised cooperation, this issue is on the agenda of the intergovernmental commission.

WIth Minister Alfano, we have touched upon Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union. We look forward to the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement this fall, which defines the framework for active political dialogue, cooperation in many areas, as well as for dynamic trade and economic relations.

In the context of next year’s chairmanship of Italy in the OSCE, we discussed its priorities, the most important issues, that form the agenda of the Organisation, the challenges it is facing.

We have exchanged views on urgent international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, Syria, fight against terrorism, migration flows, last developments in the Gulf.

I briefed my colleague on recent development on the efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, aimed at creating conducive conditions for advancement of the peace process of Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate Italy’s precise stance expressed at the adoption of the decision on the Italian Chairmanship of the OSCE in support of the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the three principles of international law, namely the non use of force or the threat of use of force, territorial integrity and equal rights and self determination of people proposed by them as the basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, as well as the creation of the mechanism for investigation of the ceasefire violations and the expansion of the team of the personal representative of the Chairman-in-Office.

I extended an invitation to the Foreign Minister of Italy to visit Armenia.

Dear Angelino, thank you again and I look forward to hosting you in Yerevan.”