The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan participated in "Armenia-Georgia strategic partnership: from concept to reality" expert conference.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vahan Kostanyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Armenia Viktor Richter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia Christos Sofianopoulos, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha, experts from Armenia, Georgia also participated in the conference. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Lasha Darsalia made a video message.

During the conference, Arayik Harutyunyan made a speech, in which he particularly stated,

"Your Excellencies dear Ambassadors,
Dear guests,
Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to welcome you at the "Armenia-Georgia Strategic Partnership: from concept to reality" expert conference organized by the "Orbeli" analytical center of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Prime Minister's Office.

I am confident that this emerging professional platform will be another impetus for deepening cooperation between our two countries. The Government of the Republic of Armenia highly values the opinion and role of the expert community in revealing future perspectives of strategic cooperation between Armenia and Georgia. I hope today's event will create a great opportunity for that.

Relations between our countries have a history of more than 30 years, while the annals of interactions between our peoples have a history of hundreds of years. This is a solid foundation on which our relationship today rests, and which must be strengthened and developed.

The core of the interaction between Armenia and Georgia is the similarity of the value system, which is intertwined with identical perceptions of democracy, human rights and freedoms, as well as the unconditional supremacy of the law. It is important to emphasize that in the declaration on strategic cooperation signed between Armenia and Georgia in January of this year, the unconditional recognition of each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty is essential. The issue of activating the border delimitation process between Armenia and Georgia is on the agenda.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again congratulate our Georgian colleagues and the Georgian people on the occasion of receiving the status of a candidate for EU membership. I fully hope that this event will further contribute to the stabilization and prosperity of the region. The Republic of Armenia supported and continues to support Tbilisi's aspirations to join the European Union.

Here I would like to mention that the Armenia-EU partnership is one of the most important priorities of the Republic of Armenia's foreign policy. The legal basis of that partnership is the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed on November 24, 2017 between the Republic of Armenia and the EU, which created an institutional framework for the partnership. For the purpose of effective implementation of the agreement, at the initiative of the interdepartmental coordinating committee, a road map for the implementation of the provisions of the said agreement was developed, consisting of more than 300 measures. Cooperation with the EU has already contributed to the implementation of reforms in Armenia in the fields of justice, public administration, economy and a number of other fields. Together with the European Union and with its support, reforms aimed at the establishment of a democratic society were also carried out.

Dear Colleagues,
Dear attendees,

Armenia is now in a very important period. Today, we are diversifying our foreign policy, as a result of which we seek to develop relations with both regional and global actors, while continuing relations with traditional partners by establishing and deepening new ties. The diversification of foreign policy, which includes the creation of a new security system and the establishment of new partnerships in the defense sector, is an important factor for the Republic of Armenia.

The changing geopolitical situation brings new trials and challenges, including in our region. In this regard, countries with common aspirations should work closely together to withstand these challenges and threats. However, it should be noted that in the new geopolitical realities, our countries face not only challenges, but also new opportunities. Opening new horizons for cooperation, expansion of economic ties, the possibility of real and lasting peace in the region open up prospects for us, which should be used to the maximum by our states and peoples.

In the context of the above, the Government of Armenia brought forward the "Crossroads of Peace" project aimed at promoting the connectivity of the region, based on the principles of sovereignty of states, jurisdiction over infrastructure passing through their territories, equality and reciprocity. From the point of view of unblocking the region's infrastructure, the "Crossroads of Peace" project implies a significant increase in the capacities of road freight, pipelines, power transmission and internet cables between the Black Sea from one side, and the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman from the other, through the territory of Armenia. The North-South part of the "Crossroads of Peace" concept includes the creation of railway communication in case of the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, while the East-West part can connect the Caspian Sea through the territory of Armenia to the Mediterranean Sea and the Turkish ports of the Black Sea through various channels.

In the current situation, when countries are searching for new transport and economic opportunities, the South Caucasus can become a new transit hub between East and West, North and South.

In conclusion, I would like to express confidence that this conference will become an effective platform for the exchange of expert opinions and experience between our countries.

Thank you for attention and good luck to the conference."

The participants of the conference were then presented with the "Crossroads of Peace" project of the Armenian government.