President receives Germany’s ambassador to Armenia Reiner Morell

President Serzh Sargsyan received today Reiner Morell, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) to the Republic of Armenia, at the completion of his diplomatic tenure in our country.

The Armenian president greatly appreciated the FRG embassy’s activities in the RA under the direct leadership of Reiner Morell, who, according to the president, has worked actively over the last three years, organizing various events that have helped to raise public awareness of Germany in Armenia, broaden intercultural contacts and mutual understating between the two peoples, promote political dialogue and develop trade and economic ties.

The president expressed his gratitude for the ambassador’s devotion and effective activities aimed at reinforcing friendship between the Armenian and German peoples, which, according to Serzh Sargsyan, has been highly appreciated by our people. At the meeting, the president awarded Ambassador Morell the Order of Friendship for his significant contribution to the strengthening of ties between Armenia and Germany. The Armenian president wished him all the best in his upcoming undertakings and expressed the hope that Armenia has left a warm impression on him, and that he will always remain friends with our country.

Stressing that Germany is a crucial partner and friend of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan expressed satisfaction with the fact that the two countries continue to develop interstate relations quite dynamically, have considerably expanded and enriched their cooperation agenda over the recent period through around 60 cooperation agreements, have also promoted military cooperation and have intensified reciprocal visits and contacts at various levels. According to President Serzh Sargsyan, his meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel held over the last months during different events have provided a good opportunity to discuss many issues of mutual concern.

Talking about inter-parliamentary relations, the interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the fact that they have been developing as a result of active reciprocal visits. President Serzh Sargsyan greatly appreciated the fact that German legislatures also visit Artsakh, which gives them the chance to attain an objective view of the NK conflict.

At the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan highly valued the fact that currently, numerous events are taking place in Germany devoted to the Armenian Genocide Centennial. According to the president, the Armenian people attach great value to German officials’ positions on the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, particularly President Joachim Gauck’s speech on April 23 at Berlin Cathedral, as well as the discussion held on April 24 at the Bundestag plenary session dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial, which was preceded by Bundestag President Norbert Lammert’s introductory speech (he directly characterized the 1915 reality as genocide).

At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Reiner Morell expressed his thanks to the president for the warm welcome and for highly praising his activities, noting that it is a great honor for him to receive the state decoration of the Republic of Armenia. The ambassador emphasized that during his time in office he did what every ambassador is obliged to do, and that the RA decoration symbolizes not only his work, but also the relationship between the two countries.