Armenian foreign minister hopes for further development of relations with Austria

YEREVAN, September 8. / ARKA /. Armenia’s foreign minister Edward Nalbandian was upbeat today about the visit of an Austrian delegation to Armenia, led by its foreign minister Sebastian Kurtz, saying it   may give a fresh push to the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Austrian opposite number Nalbandian said the delegation includes representatives of various businesses, including the energy sector, ‘that can be a good incentive for the development of bilateral trade and economic relations."

Sebastian Kurtz has arrived in Armenia today on an official two-day visit at the invitation of Edward Nalbandian. 

Nalbandian said that the parties had a good opportunity to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, as well as the status of implementation of agreements that had been reached by the two countries. 

He said the sides had also an exchange of views on how to enhance the existing legal framework, discussed the possibility of development of inter-parliamentary relations and the expansion of decentralized cooperation. They also stressed the importance of political dialogue and consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. 

"We always use the opportunity to hold meetings at various levels at various forums and will continue this tradition," concluded Nalbandian. 

According to the National Statistical Service, Armenia's foreign trade turnover with Austria in the first half of 2014 amounted to about $42 billion, an increase of almost 30 percent compared with the same period last year. -0-