Slovenian President in Yerevan: Praises Armenia Calls on Turkey to Ratify the Protocols

The world must be very attentive to Armenia, the world must attach high importance to cooperation with this country, Slovenian President Danilo Türk told a press conference in Yerevan.
He stressed that Slovenia welcomes the signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols in Zurich and urges Ankara to continue its dialogue with Yerevan, ratify and implement the protocols as soon as possible.
According to him, Armenia is one of the most important partners of the international community in security, as this country has had most sensitive experiences itself. The Slovenian leader stressed his country’s warm attitude to Armenia, a country with rich culture and great prospects, which is playing a significant role in the South Caucasus. President Türk pointed out a great potential for bilateral cultural cooperation.
The Slovenian leader also pointed out potential cooperation in chemical industry, pharmacology and public health. He also stressed the need for liberalizing the EU visa requirements for Armenia. In this context he singled out the bilateral agreement abolishing the visa requirements for persons with diplomatic passports. The Slovenian President also pointed out the Eastern Partnership program as an important area of the EU-Armenia cooperation.
As regards security problems, the Slovenian leader stressed that more reliable international security guarantees have recently been offered. According to him, RF President Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to ensure security in the Eurasian region has played a considerable role in this. President Türk also pointed out that NATO’s new international security strategy will be presented at the NATO Summit in Lisbon.
Four Armenian-Slovenian agreements have been signed during the Slovenian President’s visit to Armenia: an agreement on abolition of double taxation and prevention of tax avoidance; an economic cooperation agreement; an agreement abolishing visa requirements for persons having diplomatic passports; an agreement on scientific, educational and cultural cooperation.
On October 11, the Slovenian leader and his spouse Barbara Miklic Turk visited the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims and laid a wreath at the monument.
The Slovenian President planted a fir tree at the memory park of Tsitsernakaberd complex. Later, Turk visited the Armenian Genocide Museum and left a note in the commemoration book.