President received the EU Commissioner for Research, Science, and Innovation Carlos Moedas

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the EU Commissioner for Research, Science, and Innovation Carlos Moedas who has arrived to Armenia to participate at the 8th unofficial Ministerial dialogue of the Eastern Partnership titled Research, Science, and Innovation.

The President of Armenia welcomed the guest to our country and underscored that the areas of education and science have always been special for the Armenian people, and today too our country on its route towards development relies on knowledge, striving to engage education and science in the development programs such as provided by the Eastern Partnership format. The President stressed the importance of holding the meeting dedicated to these areas in Yerevan.

Serzh Sargsyan referred also to the Armenia-EU relations and noted that negotiations between Armenia and EU on the new framework agreement are going on dynamically, in the atmosphere of partnership. With regard to the deepening of the Armenia-EU relations, the President stressed as an important achievement Armenia’s becoming this year an associated member of the Horizon 2020 program. The parties highlighted the significance of the mentioned program which is call to unite all human efforts and enhance integration processes in the European research realm.

The EU Commissioner for Research, Science, and Innovation Carlos Moedas noted with satisfaction that today’s Ministerial meeting in Yerevan laid foundations for future. He underscored that was impressed with the researchers he met today and was sure that the Horizon 2020 program will open new opportunities for the Armenian higher education establishments, will help in transferring knowledge from the theoretical in the practical field, will boost the development of the small and medium innovative enterprises.

At the meeting, the parties spoke also about the Armenian-Portuguese relations. The Portuguese politician Carlos Moedas spoke with the greatest esteem about the celebrated Armenian-Portuguese entrepreneur and benefactor Galust Gyulbenkian, who, in his words, made a great contribution to the development of science, education, and culture in Portugal.