YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–President Robert Kocharian met April 10 a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy Valentino Martinelli. Martinelli handed Kocharian a message from president of Italy Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
The two discussed Armenia-Italy cooperation. They noted that the serious potential for cooperation between the two countries has not been utilized. The sides also discussed the possibility of opening an Italian embassy in Armenia and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Armenia this July. Kocharian and Martinelli exchanged views about the situation in the Balkans.
The same day Martinelli met with Armenian prime minister Armen Darbinian. The two discussed economic cooperation between Italy and Armenia.
Prime minister presented those initiatives aimed at encouraging business cooperation on which a preliminary agreement had been reached. A delegation of businessmen from Italy is expected to visit Armenia to learn about Armenia’s economic potential. A business forum dedicated to Armenia will be organized in Italy. The Italian side showed great interest in a proposal of the prime minister to set up a joint intergovernmental commission on celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia.