Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden’s envoy stresses immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war, civilian hostages held in Azerbaijan
YEREVAN. – On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan received the Swedish Ambassador to Armenia Patrik Svensson, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office.
Matevosyan welcomed the positive dynamics of Armenian-Swedish relations and praised the Swedish government’s interest in contributing to Armenia’s reform agenda and the support provided during the 44-day (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the autumn of 2020.
Ambassador Svensson, for his part, emphasized the importance of partnerships with Armenia and expressed the Swedish Government’s readiness to contribute to the development of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Armenia.
The interlocutors also stressed the need for the immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages held in Azerbaijan. And they agreed that the resumption of talks on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be carried out under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair.
It also referred to the humanitarian issues arising from the aforementioned 44-day war, the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, and the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
When we discussed the issues on the agenda for Armenian-Swedish co-operation, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan highlighted the presence of Swedish companies in Armenia’s economy, as well as the intensification of co-operation in legal reform, the fight against corruption and human rights.