Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received the Ministers of Interior of the CIS countries who were meeting in Yerevan over the past days. Earlier the chairmanship of the CIS interior Ministers was passed to Armenia during the opening of the meeting.
By far the most significant asspect of this usually routine meeting has been the participation of the Interior Minister of Azerbaijan, Ramil Usubov in the proceedings. Official media in both Armenia and Azerbaijan have downplayed the visit. There have been some criticism of the visit from some radical groups in Baku, such as the so called "Karabakh Liberation Organisation".
The visit however is generally seen as a positive move as it may open new possibilities for contacts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis at official and unofficial level. Many observers are convinced that such contacts are a necessary prelude to any peaceful solution to the conflict between the two countries. Recently Russia has joined western countries in putting emphasis on confidence building measures in support of the peace process.
source: commonspace.eu newsroom
photo: President of Armenia Serz Sargsyan receiving the Interior Ministers of the CIS countries in Yerevan on 14 October (picture courtesy of the Press Service of the President of Armenia)
