On January 25 took place the working visit of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian to Latvia. In Riga Minister Nalbandian was received by Andris Berzins, the President of the Republic of Latvia. Welcoming Edward Nalbandian, President Andris Berzins mentioned that Latvia is interested in the further deepening and strengthening of the relations with friendly Armenia, and his country is committed to exert additional efforts towards that direction. Edward Nalbandian conveyed the greetings and wishes of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Latvia’s President. In the course of the meeting, the maintenance of continuation of high-ranking visits, the steps to be undertaken towards promoting of bilateral cooperation in various spheres and regional issues were touched upon. The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs presented to Latvia’s President the negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, as well as Armenia’s approaches on regional issues. The sides discussed Armenia-EU relations and the cooperation between Armenia and Latvia in that format. The next meeting of Edward Nalbandian was with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rink?vi?s. During the talk Ministers Nalbandian and Rink?vi?s discussed the implementation of the agreements reached between the Heads of the States. Edward Nalbandian and Edgars Rink?vi?s noted with satisfaction that the relations between Armenia and Latvia have been dynamically developing: the reciprocal visits of the Presidents of the two countries, as well as the Foreign Ministers took place in the recent years, and a number of meetings were held in the frames of international conferences. The Foreign Ministers described it as a proof of mutual interest to further strengthen bilateral relations. The Ministers underlined that the regular consultations between their Ministries created a good basis for the further development of the cooperation. Issues related to supporting the cooperation and mutual candidacies in the frames of international organizations were on the agenda of the negotiations. In that context, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude for supporting the candidacy of Latvia’s representative Nils Muižnieks in the position of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe. It was mutually mentioned that recently the legal framework between Armenia and Latvia was more expanded which creates good backgrounds for launching of more intensive cooperation between the two countries in various spheres. In the context of Armenia-EU relations, Ministers Nalbandian and Rink?vi?s exchanged views on the implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan and the cooperation in the frames of the Eastern Partnership. The key topics discussed by the Foreign Ministers were about the further strengthening and expanding of economic cooperation. Ministers Nalbandian and Rink?vi?s talked about cultural exchanges, as well. Upon the request of Edgars Rink?vi?s, Edward Nalbandian presented the recent developments in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In that context, the Ministers mutually stressed that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution to the issue. The interlocutors exchanged views on the regional issues, including Iran’s nuclear program. In this regard, Minister Nalbandian reaffirmed Armenia’s position according to which the issue should be solved through dialogue, negotiations and consensus. Edward Nalbandian invited his Latvian counterpart to visit Armenia, Accepting the invitation, Edgars Rink?vi?s offered to pay a visit in the second half of the year. After the meeting the Ministers had a joint press conference. In Riga, Edward Nalbandian was hosted in Latvian Saeima where he had a meeting with Latvia’s Saeima Speaker Solvita ?bolti?a. Eriks Kalnins, the Chairmain of Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Latvian Parliament, Ivans Klementjevs, Latvia - Armenia Inter-parliamentary Co-operation Group and members of the Latvian Parliament’s fractions attended the meeting, as well. In the course of the meeting with the Latvian deputies, Edward Nalbandian discussed the role of the Parliaments in the relations between the two countries, mentioning that Armenia attaches great importance to parliamentary diplomacy as an essential format for the cooperation between the two countries and peoples. During the meeting, bilateral, regional and international issues were discussed. Latvian Saeima Speaker highlighted the positive involvement and role of Latvia’s Armenian community in the development of the country. Edward Nalbandian gave an extensive interview to the Latvian leading newspaper Latvias Avize at the Parliament. Minister Nalbandian’s agenda included the meeting with Latvia - Armenia Inter-parliamentary Co-operation Group, as well. The group is the biggest one existing in the Saeima and consists of around 30 deputies. During the meeting with the deputies, the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, as well as issues related to the Armenian-Latvian relations and the further deepening of bilateral cooperation in various spheres were discussed. Edward Nalbandian answered numerous questions of the deputies, as well. Concluding the visit, Edward Nalbandian left for Vilnius.

---