25/11/2014 18:36
Armenian embassy opens in Stockholm
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan went on an official visit to Sweden on November 24. On the same day he had talks with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
The agenda of the two foreign ministers’ negotiations included the steps aimed at expanding Armenian-Swedish bilateral relations, Armenia-EU cooperation, and topical international problems.
Minister Nalbandyan said that Armenia is interested in developing and expanding bilateral cooperation and there are serious prerequisites for it. The ministers were unanimous that the opening of embassies will give renewed impetus to bilateral relations.
At the request of M. Wallstrom, Edward Nalbandyan presented efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chaisr towards a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh problem. The Armenian foreign minister said in this connection: “At the moment it is important to overcome the extremely negative situation after Baku’s provocative actions – the downing of a helicopter of the Karabakh Defense Army during a training flight by Azerbaijani armed forces and the deaths of the crew members”.
Edward Nalbandyan invited the foreign minister of Sweden to visit Armenia.
The opening ceremony of the Armenian embassy took place in Stockholm on the same day. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials of Sweden’s government and Foreign Ministry, Riksdag members, ambassadors accredited to Stockholm, public figures, and representatives of the Armenian community in Sweden.
Speeches were made by Foreign Minister Nalbandyan and Swedish Minister for Strategic Development Kristina Persson.
In addition to the political agenda, E. Nalbandyan’s visit to Sweden had an economic component as well. He met with officials of companies engaged in high-tech industry, communications, healthcare, banking and energy sectors and informed them about investment opportunities in Armenia and the government programs on economic development. The Swedish businessmen presented activities of their companies in Armenia and promising programs of cooperation. The opportunities of Armenian-Swedish business forums and mutual visits by representatives of the economic sphere were also discussed.