May 1, 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.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax (37410) 52-48-46; e-mail info@nci.am