YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The newly elected Cypriot Ambassador to Armenia Platon Kiriakides presented his credentials to Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian on Wednesday. The diplomat assured Kocharian he will make every effort to promote the development and strengthening of relations between the two countries.
Congratulating Kiriakides on his new appointment–Kocharian voiced confidence that during Kiriakides’ term in office bilateral relations between the two nations would be expanded.
Expressing satisfaction with the development of Armeno-Cypriot relations–the president of Armenia emphasized that there are no problems between Cyprus and Armenia. The sides pointed out that Armenia and Cyprus are actively cooperating within various international organizations and referred to the importance of holding political consultations. According to them–both states have much in common.
Discussing prospects for economic cooperation–the participants in the meeting stressed that the juridical field needed for cooperation is now in the making. The president pointed to the importance of involving Cypriot capital in Armenia’s economy.
Ambassador Kiriakides handed over to Kocharian a message of greeting by Cyprus’ President Glafcos Clerides and his best wishes to the Armenian people. Under a preliminary agreement–an official visit of the president of Cyprus to Armenia has been scheduled for this fall.
"Armenia and Cyprus signed seven agreemen’s and the same number of agreemen’s will be ratified," Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourtian told journalists–introducing the new ambassador. According to him–following the signing of these documen’s the legal basis of the relations between Armenia and Cyprus will be finally formed.
Baibourtian also expressed optimism that the ambassador’s activities will assist Armenia in adopting the experience of Cyprus in investment–tourism–customs and other spheres.
Kiriakides described Armeno-Cypriot relations as exemplary. The ambassador pointed out that Armenia and Cyprus have much in common despite the fact that the two countries are distant from each other. He promised that Cyprus would assist Armenia in overcoming the temporary difficulties.
The ambassador also pointed out that his country supports the peaceful settlement of both the Armenian-Azeri and Greek-Turkish conflicts. As a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus–Kiriakides expressed optimism that sooner or later the two parts of the forcibly partitioned Cyprus will reunite.
It should be mentioned that Platon Kiriakides will hold the dual posts of Ambassador to Armenia and Russia. He will reside in Moscow.