«The past year 2005 was rather effective and formed good preconditions for 2006,» Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at today’s news conference on the results of the MFA activities in 2005. Among important achievements past year he noted the successful course of the Euro integration of Armenia, referendum on constitutional reforms, approval of the Individual Partnership Action Plan between Armenia and the NATO. He also noted some important points of work in 2006. These include the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, Armenia-Diaspora conference, cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy is included in Armenia’s foreign policy in 2006 in connection with events like Year of Armenia in Russia, as well as in France, stated the Armenian FM.
Answering a question on sending international peacekeeping forces in the Karabakh conflict zone, their composition and the OSCE Planning Group visit to Baku, Mr. Oskanian remarked the OSCE Planning Group visited both Baku and Yerevan. «They will make their proposals over deployment of peacekeeping forces, their number and composition,» the FM said. When commenting on the OSCE annual report on Nagorno Karabakh, Oskanian remarked he did not read it in person, however «Armenia’s representatives to the OSCE qualified the report as positive.» When commenting on his latest statement that increase of gas prices by Russia is not only economic, but also political problem, the Armenian FM said the issue might actually have political consequences, as for example in case of Ukraine. «Talks are held over the matter,» he remarked, hoping for Armenian President’s visit to Moscow in January to help solve the issue.
