The foreign minister of the Czech Republic, current holder of the European
Union’s rotating presidency, urged Armenia’s leadership on Wednesday to engage
in an “intensive dialogue” with the domestic position to defuse lingering
political tensions in the country.

“We believe that the best way out of the situation is dialogue,” Karel
Schwarzenberg said after talks with his visiting Armenian counterpart, Eduard
Nalbandian. “We won’t push, we are recommending Armenia to overcome the
situation by means of an intensive dialogue with the opposition.”

Schwarzenberg said such a dialogue is essential for Armenia’s inclusion in the
EU’s Eastern Partnership program that offers six former Soviet republics much
closer ties with the bloc in return for political and economic reforms. “Of
course we know that Armenia has already taken some steps to improve the
situation but those efforts should continue,” he said, referring to the
continuing imprisonment of dozens of opposition members arrested following the
2008 presidential election.

Nalbandian reiterated his government’s assertions that none of those
oppositionists is a political prisoner. Still, he said Yerevan is committed to
fully complying with Council of Europe resolutions that demand the release of
all individuals arrested on “seemingly artificial or politically motivated
charges.”

Speaking at a joint news conference with Schwarzenberg, Nalbandian also said the Armenian government is prepared to negotiate with the opposition. The opposition
has so far failed to display such readiness, he said.

Schwarzenberg indicated that Armenia should also improve its relations with
Azerbaijan and Turkey if it is to qualify for Eastern Partnership. He said there
could soon be “very positive developments” in Turkish-Armenian ties and
described as “promising” the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process.

The EU is due to formally launch Eastern Partnership at a summit of its member
states that will take place in Prague in May. President Serzh Sarkisian is
expected to attend the summit.