Secretary of State Gar Knutson visited Armenia

On November 15-16, a Canadian delegation headed by Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East) Gar Knutson visited Armenia on the final leg of a Transcaucasian tour.

In Yerevan, the delegation, which included Canada's Ambassador to Armenia (resident in Moscow), Rodney Irwin, M.P. Sarkis Assadourian and Vice-President of the Canadian International Development Agency Peter Daniel, had a number of meetings with high-ranking officials, such as President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, President of the National Assembly Armen Khachatrian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Trade and Industry Minister Tcshmaritian.

During Mr. Knutson's meeting with Foreign Minster Vartan Oskanian, the sides discussed regional developments and the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Minster Oskanian welcomed Canada's interest in the region and expressed hope for greater bilateral cooperation.