Georgian president meets Armenian counterpart in Tbilisi, says EU’s role is ‘high in region’
Georgian and Armenian presidents have met in Tbilisi earlier today. Photo: president of Georgia press office.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has hosted her Armenian counterpart Armen Sarkissian in Tbilisi earlier today.
Zurabishvili said that the EU’s role in peaceful conflict resolution in the Caucasus region and for large-scale infrastructure projects is high.
Zurabishvili stated that the region has ‘unique economic potential’ and that ‘increased interest in the region from foreign actors confirms the importance of the region.’
Carrying out large-scale projects to connect Europe with Asia through the Caucasus region needs the active engagement of all interested parties, including the EU. The EU’s role is high in peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region as well as in the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects,” Zurabiahsvili said.
She said that the meeting with Sarkissian should have taken place much earlier.
Joint Statements with President Sarkissian of Armenia https://t.co/CQzA67QDGs
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) April 15, 2021
However, she noted, major challenges such as the pandemic and the recent war between Armenia and Azerbaijan had delayed the meeting.
Zurabishvili expressed condolences to the families of the war victims and stated that Georgia ‘has always stood by the side of peace.’
We have offered mediation for peace and we are always ready to act for the peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Zurabishvili said.
Zurabishvili said that she briefed Sarkissian about the current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions and said that ‘any tension and conflicts in the region affect the whole region.’
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) April 15, 2021
Peace and cooperation is crucial for the development of the Caucasus region,” Zurabishvili said.
She stated that the recent ‘alarming situation’ in Ukraine has also been discussed at the meeting.
Sarkissian stated that Armenians and Georgians have had close and friendly links for centuries with each other.
At the invitation of the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and his wife Nouneh Sarkissian arrived to Georgia in an official visit. ????????????????
— ՀՀ նախագահ | President of the Republic of Armenia (@Arm_President) April 15, 2021
Further strengthening of Georgian and Armenian ties is one of the preconditions for regional welfare,” Sarkissian said.
Sarkissian stated that the two countries ‘have a big potential’ to boost cooperation for modern technologies, bio technologies, cyber security, artificial intellect and food safety.
Georgian and Armenian presidential institutes are able to play their roles for further development of business relations between the two countries, as well as in the fight against coronavirus” Sarkissian said.
Վրաստանի նախագահ Սալոմե Զուրաբիշվիլիի հրավերով Հայաստանի Հանրապետության նախագահ Արմեն Սարգսյանը, տիկնոջ՝ Նունե Սարգսյանի հետ, այսօր պաշտոնական այցով ժամանել է Վրաստան:https://t.co/X3GbVRCNit pic.twitter.com/s6uOgErYo5
— ՀՀ նախագահ | President of the Republic of Armenia (@Arm_President) April 15, 2021
Sarkissian stated that the Karabakh conflict and ‘huge humanitarian problems’ emerged following the recent war with Azerbaijan were discussed at the meeting.
He said that stability in the region is unlikely until the peaceful resolution of current conflicts.