News Official visit to Equatorial Guinea and the Problem of the Armenian Pilots February 23, 2005 On February 20, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in Equatorial Guinea on an official visit. The purpose of the visit was to establish relations between Armenia and Equatorial Guinea, as well as to discuss the fate of the six Armenian pilots, who have been imprisoned there since March 8, 2004. On February 21, Minister Oskanian met in the capital Malabo with Prime Minister Migel Abia Biteo Borikoi. On the same day he also had meetings with Secretary of State Viktoriana Nchama Nsoue Okomoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pastor Bill Micha Ondoi, and with the Prosecutor General Jose Olo Obonoi. Minister Oskanian discussed prospects for the future development of bilateral relations in several fields, including cooperation in international organizations and in education. The sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on holding talks between the two ministries. They also agreed to accredit non-resident ambassadors in the near future. The fate of the Armenian pilots, with whom Minister Oskanian met during his visit, was discussed separately. The outcome of the visit was positive as it made possible further contacts at the highest levels, and facilitated the process of more closely monitoring progress in the resolution of the Armenian pilots¹ case. In this regard, the Armenian side has proposed signing a bilateral agreement on extradition which would help to regulate processes surrounding this difficult issue.

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