The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Mr Eduard Nalbandyan, is paying a two-day working visit to Cyprus between 13 and 14 September, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis.

Mr Nalbandyan’s visit is a follow-up to Dr Marcoullis’ visit to Erevan, last April, and is held in the framework of the Protocol on Consultations between the two Ministries and of the Joint Declaration on bilateral relations which was signed in January 2011 in Nicosia between the Armenian President, Mr Serzh Sargsyan, and the President of the Republic, Mr Demetris Christofias.

This afternoon, the Armenian Foreign Minister will be received by the President of the Republic and then he will attend a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Armenia for the country’s 21st anniversary of independence.

Tomorrow, Mr Nalbandyan will be received by the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Yiannakis L. Omirou, and afterwards he will visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he will give a lecture to the members of the Diplomatic Service on Armenia’s foreign policy and the current developments.

Tête-à-tête and extensive talks will follow with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, during which the following will be discussed: the bilateral relations in the political and economic sector as well as perspectives for their further reinforcement, the developments on the Cyprus problem, the EU-Armenia relations, the Nagorno Karabakh peace process and issues of European and international interest, such as the developments in the Southern Neighbourhood.

Following the talks, the two Foreign Ministers will give a joint Press conference. The programme of consultations between the two Ministries will end with a working lunch hosted by Dr Kozakou-Marcoullis in honour of the Foreign Minister of Armenia.