Newly Appointed Ambassador of Portugal to Armenia Presented his Credentials to President Vahagn Khachaturyan

President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan received the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Portuguese Republic to the Republic of Armenia, Sara Martins.

President Khachaturyan congratulated Ambassador Martins on assuming her post and wished her every success in carrying out her responsible diplomatic mission.

“Portugal holds a special place in our reality and for the Armenian people, largely due to the remarkable legacy of Calouste Gulbenkian. In many cases, Armenia is recognized in Portugal through his name,” the President noted.

Emphasizing the importance of the friendly relations established between Armenia and Portugal, President Khachaturyan stated that there is considerable potential for expanding bilateral cooperation into new areas.

“Since gaining independence, our two countries have built friendly relations, and we are ready to further develop and deepen them in the political, economic, cultural, educational, scientific, and other fields.

We also cooperate closely within the Armenia–European Union framework and highly appreciate Portugal’s support for the continued development of the partnership between Armenia and the European Union,” the President said.

Ambassador Sara Martins, in turn, expressed her gratitude for the warm reception, noting that it was a great honor to be received at the Presidential Residence and to represent Portugal in Armenia.

The Ambassador emphasized that one of her foremost priorities would be to further strengthen the already established friendly relations between the two countries and expand bilateral cooperation.

“Although diplomatic relations between Armenia and Portugal were officially established 34 years ago, the ties between our two peoples are much deeper and have a long-standing history,” Ambassador Martins stated, adding that she would make every effort to promote more dynamic bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed the agenda of Armenia–Portugal relations and discussed opportunities for further expanding bilateral cooperation.

Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening economic ties through increasing bilateral trade, promoting investment, expanding direct contacts between business communities, and enhancing cooperation in information technologies, innovation, education, science, tourism, and other areas of mutual interest.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on the democratic reforms being implemented in Armenia. Both sides underscored the importance of continuously strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and promoting democratic values as essential foundations for sustainable development and deeper international partnerships.

The meeting also addressed the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which will be held in Armenia in October 2026. President Khachaturyan stressed that hosting the conference would provide an important opportunity to unite the international community’s efforts in preserving biodiversity, addressing the impacts of climate change, and advancing the sustainable development agenda. It was emphasized that today’s global challenges require closer international cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

The sides highlighted the importance of maintaining a high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Portugal and intensifying high-level mutual visits, expressing confidence that such exchanges would provide fresh momentum for the further development of bilateral relations. Through Ambassador Martins, President Khachaturyan extended an invitation to the President of the Portuguese Republic to pay an official visit to Armenia at a convenient time.

The meeting also underscored the effective cooperation between Armenia and Portugal within international organizations and multilateral platforms. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing collaboration in support of an international order based on international law, multilateralism, and the principles of peace.

The sides also highly valued the productive cooperation within the framework of the Armenia–European Union partnership, emphasizing that dialogue founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and joint initiatives constitutes a solid basis for the further development of Armenia–European Union relations, to which Portugal continues to make a significant contribution.