The focus of the discussion was a briefing by Mr. Peres on Israel's position on the peace process. In the course of the visit of the Armenian foreign minister, a number of agreements between the two countries were also signed Text of a Foreign Ministry summary of the meeting follows:
In a meeting with visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vahan Papazian today (Monday), 19 December 94, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres reviewed the current situation in the peace process and emphasized that Israel does not intend to unilaterally change the Declaration of Principles. According to Mr. Peres, Israel is concerned over a redeployment of IDF forces, since the PLO has not succeeded in reining in terrorism, and therefore, "We are trying to find a way to hold elections without damaging our security."
Regarding negotiations with Syria, Mr. Peres said that little had been achieved, noting that President Assad is demanding an Israeli commitment to withdraw completely from the Golan Heights as a condition for beginning substantive negotiations, something which Israel finds unacceptable. The Syrian president's refusal to raise the level of the talks to that of political decision-makers is making the conduct of negotiations difficult. Mr. Peres also presented to Mr. Papazian his plan to convene a regional conference on education, which would complete the processes begun at the Madrid and Casablanca conferences. According to Mr. Peres, regional cooperation in the spheres of politics, economics and education would provide the best solution for problems with which the Middle East is currently contending.
Following the meeting between Mr. Peres and Mr. Papazian, the following documents were signed:
- a framework agreement for cultural, educational and scientific cooperation; - an agreement on holding political consultations;
- a memorandum of understanding regarding the signing, soon, of agreements in the spheres of agriculture, energy, trade and industry, health, aviation, protecting investments and preventing double taxation.