Updates
Interviews and press conferences
05
04, 2011
Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the representatives of mass media held in the framework of his official visit to the Republic of Serbia
Thank you, Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to express my profound thanks for President Tadic’s warm hospitality. This is my first official visit to Serbia; actually this is the first visit to Serbia by the President of Armenia. I am glad to state that recently high-level reciprocal visits and meetings in the multilateral formats have invigorated political dialogue between Armenia and Serbia. I assess it as a new beginning in the Armenian-Serbian interstate relations.
The agenda of the negotiations was inclusive, however I would like to mention the most important point – we have reiterated our mutual will and determination to strengthen our relations. It’s been noted that political dialogue, cooperation in economic, trade and cultural areas have considerable potential for development and we have agreed to put additional efforts in filling the cooperation agenda with a new content, making it more active.
We have also discussed the pace of the implementation of the agreements reached during President Tadic’s July 2009 visit to Armenia. We noted that there are already certain results: a number of agreements have already been implemented, particularly in the political area. The heads of our foreign ministries meet regularly in bilateral format as well as in the framework of different international forums. Works have been conducted towards the expansion of the legal field. Recently the Armenian-Serbian cultural life has become pretty active which creates solid base for mutual familiarization, gives rise to mutual trust which means enhancement of cooperation in other areas. At the same time, we have preset joint steps that are to be taken to further deepen and intensify our cooperation. First of all, we stressed the importance of the economic and trade component and underscored that cooperation can be unfolded in the areas of agriculture, tourism and energy.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to mention with satisfaction that two important intergovernmental agreements have been signed in the framework of the visit – Agreement on Air Transportation and on the Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports. These documents further expand our legal field and create necessary prerequisites for the development of bilateral cooperation. We also stressed the importance of cultural contacts. The Armenian and Serb people enjoy centuries-long friendship which goes on and in our times acquires new qualities. Today, the Ministers of Culture of the two states signed a program of cooperation for the next three years. We have agreed to use every opportunity to develop relations in the humanitarian area, also promoting contacts of the young people and encouraging exchange programs.
At the request of my Serb colleague, I presented the details of the current stage of the NK peace process. We agreed that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and that use or threat to use force are unacceptable from the point of view of international law. Mr. President stated the same approach regarding Kosovo issue, noting that Serbia will not recognize the independence of Kosovo, but at the same time will not resume military actions. The people of Nagorno Karabakh, who after the collapse of the USSR exercised their right of self-determination, have no future as part of Azerbaijan. In the imposed brutal war these people had defended their fatherland and nobody can make them give up their independence.
We have also discussed other significant regional and international issues, and stressed the importance of regular consultations in the international organizations, particularly concerning issues of vital importance for Armenia and Serbia.
Over all, I assess our meeting as productive, and I hope that the Armenian-Serbian political dialogue and cooperation in different areas, assisted by joint efforts and already existing conditions, will acquire a regular and continuous nature.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to express my profound thanks for President Tadic’s warm hospitality. This is my first official visit to Serbia; actually this is the first visit to Serbia by the President of Armenia. I am glad to state that recently high-level reciprocal visits and meetings in the multilateral formats have invigorated political dialogue between Armenia and Serbia. I assess it as a new beginning in the Armenian-Serbian interstate relations.
The agenda of the negotiations was inclusive, however I would like to mention the most important point – we have reiterated our mutual will and determination to strengthen our relations. It’s been noted that political dialogue, cooperation in economic, trade and cultural areas have considerable potential for development and we have agreed to put additional efforts in filling the cooperation agenda with a new content, making it more active.
We have also discussed the pace of the implementation of the agreements reached during President Tadic’s July 2009 visit to Armenia. We noted that there are already certain results: a number of agreements have already been implemented, particularly in the political area. The heads of our foreign ministries meet regularly in bilateral format as well as in the framework of different international forums. Works have been conducted towards the expansion of the legal field. Recently the Armenian-Serbian cultural life has become pretty active which creates solid base for mutual familiarization, gives rise to mutual trust which means enhancement of cooperation in other areas. At the same time, we have preset joint steps that are to be taken to further deepen and intensify our cooperation. First of all, we stressed the importance of the economic and trade component and underscored that cooperation can be unfolded in the areas of agriculture, tourism and energy.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to mention with satisfaction that two important intergovernmental agreements have been signed in the framework of the visit – Agreement on Air Transportation and on the Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports. These documents further expand our legal field and create necessary prerequisites for the development of bilateral cooperation. We also stressed the importance of cultural contacts. The Armenian and Serb people enjoy centuries-long friendship which goes on and in our times acquires new qualities. Today, the Ministers of Culture of the two states signed a program of cooperation for the next three years. We have agreed to use every opportunity to develop relations in the humanitarian area, also promoting contacts of the young people and encouraging exchange programs.
At the request of my Serb colleague, I presented the details of the current stage of the NK peace process. We agreed that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and that use or threat to use force are unacceptable from the point of view of international law. Mr. President stated the same approach regarding Kosovo issue, noting that Serbia will not recognize the independence of Kosovo, but at the same time will not resume military actions. The people of Nagorno Karabakh, who after the collapse of the USSR exercised their right of self-determination, have no future as part of Azerbaijan. In the imposed brutal war these people had defended their fatherland and nobody can make them give up their independence.
We have also discussed other significant regional and international issues, and stressed the importance of regular consultations in the international organizations, particularly concerning issues of vital importance for Armenia and Serbia.
Over all, I assess our meeting as productive, and I hope that the Armenian-Serbian political dialogue and cooperation in different areas, assisted by joint efforts and already existing conditions, will acquire a regular and continuous nature.