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Raffi Hovannisian In Belgium For Transatlantic Forum

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  • Raffi Hovannisian In Belgium For Transatlantic Forum

    PRESS RELEASE
    Armenian Center for National and International Studies
    75 Yerznkian Street
    Yerevan 375033, Armenia
    Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
    Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
    Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
    Website: www.acnis.am


    May 2, 2006


    RAFFI HOVANNISIAN IN BELGIUM FOR TRANSATLANTIC FORUM

    Meets with Solana, Scheffer, Basescu, McCain, Bennett

    Brussels -- Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia's first Minister of Foreign
    Affairs, represented Armenia at an international policy conclave which
    was convened here from April 28 to 30 under the auspices of the German
    Marshall Fund of the United States, the Federal Government of Belgium,
    and the Bertelsmann Stiftung of Germany.

    Entitled "Transatlantic Challenges in a Global Era," the Brussels
    Forum brought together world leaders, public figures, diplomats,
    academicians, activists, and renowned journalists in order to reassess
    the transatlantic agenda from American, European, and neighborhood
    perspectives; to discuss the threats of terrorism and pandemics
    across the globe of the 21st Century; to explore global competition
    in the public and private sectors; to chart the course of democracy
    and geopolitics in wider Europe, the Middle East, and China; and
    to contemplate transatlantic energy security, national identities,
    and international integration.

    In his intervention, Raffi Hovannisian addressed the track record
    of the transatlantic alliance and examined its contribution to
    the transition from Cold War to European cooperation. He also
    underscored the imperative correlation between collective security
    and shared core values both within the alliance and for potential
    partners on its periphery. In particular, he urged the stringent and
    equal application to all national actors of the highest standards
    of democracy, rule of law, human rights protection, and genocide
    prevention and condemnation--irrespective of their place and role in
    the international system.

    Against the backdrop of contemporary democracy movements and
    geopolitical developments, Raffi Hovannisian held informal meetings
    with Dr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the
    European Union; NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer; Romanian
    President Traian Basescu; and United States Senators John McCain and
    Bob Bennett.

    In the margins of the conference, Raffi Hovannisian also met with Crown
    Prince Philippe of Belgium; Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt;
    General James Jones, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; Chairman
    Elmar Brok of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs;
    Belgian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De Gucht;
    Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay; U.S. Senators George Voinovich
    and John Edwards (former); Jordanian Senator Marwan al-Muasher; former
    Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio; DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter
    Zetsche; and several others.

    Hovannisian and his conference colleagues were received at the Royal
    Palace by His Highness King Albert of Belgium.

    Raffi Hovannisian, who is founder of the Armenian Center for National
    and International Studies and the National Citizens' Initiative,
    currently chairs the Heritage Party of Armenia.
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