Presidents of Armenia and Greece made statements for the media: The best approach is that each of us is deeply sensible of the other’s problems

President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos recapped the results of their meetings with the statements for the representatives of the media. The statement of the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian:

“I am glad to see you in Yerevan and I hope to see you again in the future, not only on official but also on working visits.

Our today’s meeting was very cordial, friendly and also very practical. We held very substantial discussions on a wide range of issues. First and foremost, I would like to thank my colleague who informed that in the coming two or three months the Greek side will speed up the ratification process of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. We also spoke about the liberalization of the EU visa regime for the citizens of Armenia, and my good friend promised to assist in expediting the process.

We also discussed a number of issues pertinent to the Armenia-EU relations and my friend proposed that Greece would become Armenia’s number one partner in the EU, noting, of course, that Armenia has other friends – France, Germany, and others.

We also spoke about cooperation in the trilateral, Armenia-Greece-Cyprus format. With Mr. President we conversed on the Armenia becoming a gateway for Greece toward the EAEU, which means that working with Armenia and through Armenia Greece could enter a bigger market. I believe on this we have a lot to do.

During our dialogue we also referred to our cooperation not only in the framework of the EU but in a much wider framework. It is about cooperation in the framework of the UN, its international structures, particularly, UNESCO, as well as in the area of protection and preservation of the Christian values. We also conversed about our history.

The two nations have not only the common history and culture but also common approaches. Our friendship dates back thousands years. Approximately one hundred years ago, the Armenians went down the road of the Mets Eghern, the Pontic Greeks went down a similar road of genocide.

We agreed that the big Armenian and Greek diasporas, which are spread all over the world, will cooperate and serve the interests of our two states and nations. These interests have many similarities, similar trends and problems which we can address together. It is expected that cooperation will be deepened also in the economic area.

We spoke also about the cooperation of the parliamentary institutes of the two countries, as well as about collaboration in the areas of education, science, new technologies, and food security. I believe that the level of cooperation in the areas of political dialogue, military, economic, cultural and scientific is pretty high. However, potential for cooperation between the two states and peoples is much bigger. Thus, all our institutes – presidential institutes, governments and parliaments, diaspora structures can have a much greater input and deepen cooperation of the two countries.

Cooperation implies also concrete practical steps. With this regard, I proposed that the Greek side considers the idea of holding the first trilateral Armenia-Greece-Cyprus meeting next year in Armenia. The meeting will be attended by state figures, representatives of Spyurk so that we are able to develop a joint program of cooperation.

I want to believe that this visit will be a historic one not only for you - the Greek President’s first visit to Armenia, but also historic for us all, opening a new page in the Armenian-Greek relations, between the Armenian and Greek peoples. I am confident that Greece and Armenia will have a brilliant future in the 21st century. I will be happy to work with you to make our cooperation deeper, more structured, and aimed into the future. I hope our cooperation will last for years to come.

I express gratitude to you, to the government of Greece for the assistance which you bring to the international format dealing with the resolution of the Artsakh issue – to the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group.

I share your approach that the law in general and international law are important and prevailing. I also agree that each problem or conflict is unique indeed and it is extremely difficult to put them in historical, political and international law frames, compare and simple replicate and copy-paste decisions or solutions. The best approach is that each of us is deeply sensible of the other’s problems and realize that these solutions should be found in the framework of all-human values and rights.”