STEPANAKERT.- The annual press conference of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic) Masis Mayilian took place on January 14, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh reported.
The Foreign Minister briefed on the activities carried out by the Foreign Ministry during 2018, noting that the MFA had continued its activities in line with the country's foreign policy priorities defined in the program of the Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan for 2017-2020.
Speaking of the results achieved in the process of the international recognition of Artsakh and the development and strengthening of decentralized cooperation, Masis Mayilian noted that on May 22, 2018, Australia’s Ryde City Council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the independence of the Republic of Artsakh. The geography of decentralized cooperation also expanded, covering the Middle East region. Generally, in 2018, friendly relations were established between 6 cities of Artsakh and foreign countries.
At the same time, consistent steps were taken to give a practical character to the relations established within the decentralized cooperation. In particular, work has been done on the implementation of practical programs in the spheres of education, agriculture, tourism and creation infrastructures in different communities of Artsakh. Visits of delegations headed by mayors of 5 foreign cities to Artsakh were also organized, within the framework of which the prospects of implementing joint programs in different spheres were discussed.
Masis Mayilian also touched upon the MFA activities carried out to develop and deepen the international relations of the Republic of Artsakh. He underlined the importance of expanding the international cooperation of Artsakh and its involvement in international processes for confronting the isolation policy carried out by Azerbaijan against Artsakh. In this context, the Foreign Minister noted that in 2018, the Ministry contributed to the organization of visits of official delegations from the Republic of Artsakh to some foreign countries, as well as visits of delegations from different foreign countries and international structures to Artsakh. In this context, the Foreign Minister highlighted the first political visit of the Artsakh Republic’s delegation, led by President Bako Sahakyan, to the USA taken place in March 2018, noting its importance in terms of presenting Artsakh's position on the realities, political processes and regional problems existing in the Republic to the official and analytical circles of the USA as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing state.
Foreign visits of leaders of ministries and agencies of the Republic of Artsakh to some foreign countries also took place.
The Foreign Ministry contributed to the development of cooperation with different countries in the format of parliamentary diplomacy. In this context, Mr. Mayilian noted the importance of the visit of Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh Ashot Ghulyan to France, as well as the visits of MPs to the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Also, visits of parliamentary delegations from the European Parliament, Cyprus, Belgium, France, as well as from the US state of California to Artsakh were organized.
