Strengthening our relations with Georgia is one of the essential preconditions for the security and development of both our countries and the region. The Presidents of Armenia and Georgia made a statement for the press

The Presidents of Armenia and Georgia Armen Sarkissian and Salome Zourabichvili summed up the results of today's meetings with statements for the mass media representatives.

The statement of the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian:

Madam President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank Madam Zourabichvili for the warm welcome and profound discussions.

Armenian-Georgian relations have a centuries-old history; we attach great importance to our friendship and cooperation with neighbouring Georgia.

The Armenian and Georgian peoples have lived side by side for centuries; the Armenians have been an active part of the cultural, economic, social, and political life of Georgia. Today, Armenian business has a large contribution in Georgia, and Georgian businessmen successfully work in Armenia.

I can confidently say that the strengthening of our relations with Georgia is one of the essential preconditions for the security and development of both our countries and the region.

Today, during the meeting with my Georgian colleague, we discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda.

We successfully cooperate in the spheres of transport, energy, tourism, agriculture, education, culture, and many others.

There is a great potential for bilateral and high-level cooperation in the fields of modern technologies, artificial intelligence, high technologies, biotechnologies, cyber-security, and food security.

I emphasized the need to deepen the cooperation of our countries in the fight against COVID-19.

To promote cooperation, mutual efforts are made, and active work is underway both within the framework of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission and on the interdepartmental scale to raise the current level of mutually beneficial cooperation to a higher degree.

We also touched upon the issues of regional security and stability, taking into account the new realities created due to Azerbaijan's military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh with the active and open support of Turkey.

I presented the approaches and views of the Armenian side on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to my Georgian counterpart. I especially emphasized that it is impossible to establish lasting peace in the region and ensure stability without a just settlement of the Artsakh problem, including by resuming the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

I stressed the huge humanitarian problems caused by the war, also the need to find an immediate solution to the issue of releasing prisoners and hostages taken by Azerbaijan.

I stressed the inadmissibility of Azerbaijan exploiting the situation after the war, pursuing a policy of hatred and violation of national dignity. Such a policy cannot contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of dialogue.

During the meeting, I also touched upon the issues of preserving the Armenian historical-cultural and spiritual heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.

Madam President, our last meeting with you was in 2019, after which, unfortunately, due to the pandemic, and the war in Artsakh, the continuity of intensive bilateral meetings was disrupted.

However, 2021 started quite actively in this regard, I believe that this activity will continue throughout the year.

I am confident that together with you, Madam President, we will intensify our efforts to contribute to the deepening of cooperation between our countries in all directions, to increase our contribution.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the President of Georgia once again for the high-level reception given to the Armenian delegation, reaffirm my readiness as the President of the Republic of Armenia to make efforts for the continuous expansion of cooperation between Armenia and Georgia.

Warm thanks again, Madam President. I hope to see you in Armenia again in the near future.