ARMENIA'S FM VARTAN OSKANIAN RECAPS 2003 AND TALKS OF PLANS FOR 2004
January 14, 2004

  Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian held his annual first-of-the-year press conference and reviewed foreign relations activities of 2003. He also presented plans and priorities for next year.
   In reviewing the activities of the last year, Minister Oskanian summarized the points made in the Ministry's lengthy end-of-the-year summary. He began by stressing the importance of Armenia's accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as the United Nations Economic and Social Council. He stressed that such membership is important for both economic and political reasons, and explained the importance of each organization.
   The Minister noted and welcomed the end-of-the-year decision by the Swiss Parliament to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
   In appraising Armenia's efforts towards European integration, the Minister noted that Armenia has taken major step forward in fulfilling its Council of Europe obligations, and that the removal of the death penalty from Armenia's criminal code has been instrumental in that direction. He continued, that with the recent ratification of the European Social Charter, Armenia has completed the Conventions portion of the obligations it had assumed upon Council of Europe membership. With the European Union, too, Minister Oskanian explained that cooperation is deepening and that President Kocharian's visit to Brussels last year served as a turning point in our relations.
   The Minister focused on the evolving Armenia-Turkey dialog and its importance, notwithstanding the occasional different interpretations and announcements. He explained that he bases his assessment on his meetings with his counterpart, the Turkish Foreign Minister, and he repeated that this process is useful and can play a positive role in moving bilateral relations forward.
   Regarding Nagorno Karabakh, the Minister said that, after a long interval, the Geneva meeting at year's end, between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan signaled that the dialog would continue.
   In other significant bilateral relations, the Minister noted the further deepening of relations with the Russian Federation. He explained that in addition to continuing security, political and cultural cooperation, a key accomplishment of 2003 was the entry into force of the debt/equity swap agreement with Russia.
   And with the US, too, the Minister reiterated Armenia's positive assessment of bilateral relations. Although US assistance to the CIS has generally been reduced, Minister Oskanian expressed pleasure at the fact that Armenia's assistance levels remain high, and that there is additional funding in the military component. He also noted with satisfaction that the US had managed to maintain parity between US military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Finally, the Minister recognized the importance of the House of Representatives passage of a resolution which, if passed by the US Senate next year, will provide Armenia with a permanent normal trade regime. This is serious progress in bilateral relations and will positively contribute to the final repeal of the Soviet-era holdover Jackson - Vanik amendment that has adversely affected the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.
   In regards to progress in regional cooperation, the Minister pointed to the NATO Best Effort exercises which were held in Armenia. He also noted the importance of the third EU-sponsored TRACECA (Transportation Corridor Europe Central Asia) conference, held in Yerevan.
   2003 was also an active year for Armenia-Diaspora relations, with the many international programs convened in Yerevan, including the Pan Armenian Games, the first Business Forum, the Armenian Studies conference, and the various youth events.
   Finally, the Minister cited three prestigious international surveys which registered Armenia's positive steps toward fighting corruption, establishing a free market economy, and democratization. Earlier in the year, in the Transparency International rankings of levels of perceived corruption, Armenia ranked significantly higher than its neighbors and other CIS countries. In the Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation index of liberal economies, Armenia again ranked highest in the region. In the Freedom House annual comparative assessment of the state of political rights and civil liberties in all countries around the world, Armenia, with just a few other CIS countries, placed in the semi-free category, ahead of the remainder who were ranked not free.
   Minister Oskanian concluded his presentation by presenting programs and plans for the coming year. "We will continue with the groundwork that has been laid," he said. "We will continue with our policy of complementarity and the active levels of engagement in international organizations. We will expand the scope and level of our bilateral relations, with our immediate neighbors, with regional states and with international power centers. The pace and content of our activities will correspond to the spirit and scope of international gatherings that will take place in 2004: the NATO and CIS summits, and the Council of Europe, BSEC, EAPC, OSCE ministerial meetings, the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council meeting, and others."
   2004 will see a continuation of Armenia's efforts to reach a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, and towards that end, Armenia will closely work with the Minsk Group co-charimen, the Minister said.
   Armenia will also continue the dialog with Turkey, with the purpose of moving bilateral relations forward. European integration processes will remain at the forefront of our priorities, by completing all Council of Europe obligations and moving on to the realization of deeper responsibilities and reforms, he said. With the European Union, Minister Oskanian said Armenia will work to deepen integration processes and said Armenia expects a clearer stance regarding future integration stages for Armenia and the Caucasus.
   The Minister added that the goal of maintaining high economic growth rates per se will also figure in Armenia's 2004 foreign policy agenda -- from helping to promote foreign investments, to finding new markets and securing and diversifying transport routes for Armenian exports. Towards this end, Armenia's foreign policy will do its part to support the government's Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Anti-Corruption program, and the UN's Millennium Development Goals, which also have a focus on eradicating poverty.
   In conclusion, Minister Oskanian read a statement on the recent rejection by Azerbaijan of Armenia's involvement in NATO Best Effort Exercise preparations, and answered reporters' questions.