President Serzh Sarkissian poses for a photo with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (Source: Public Radio of Armenia)

NEW YORK (Public Radio of Armenia)—President Serzh Sarkisian, who is in New York City to take part in the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on September 29.

Sarkisian congratulated the Secretary-General on the 70th session of the General Assembly, stressing that when Armenia joined the UN 23 years ago, it felt supported by the organization from the very first day.

Sarkisian expressed his satisfaction with the successful end of the “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” program days before. Sarkisian expressed his hope that the new comprehensive program will help improve living conditions for people around the world.

The parties also discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Sarkisian informed Secretary Ban about the current stage of the conflict and the tensions at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh, caused by the recent ceasefire violations of Azerbaijan, which he had also touched upon during his address to the General Assembly.

Secretary Ban expressed his concern over the current tensions, stressing the need for a settlement mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

Sarkisian and Ban exchanged views on current international issues, like new armed conflicts, the increasing rise of terrorism and extremism, and the growing tensions in the Near and Middle East. Secretary Moon welcomed and thanked Armenia for steps taken to provide refugees from northern Iraq and Syria with safe haven. The UN Secretary-General expressed his enthusiasm for a forum on global challenges of peacekeeping, which will reportedly be held in Yerevan in the near future.