YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia Antonios Vlavianos during the April 3 meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian–said, "Regretfully–all our initiatives–aimed at normalization of relations with Turkey remain unanswered–but this–however–in no way affects Greece’s relations with its strategic ally Armenia."
As the Armenian government Public Relations Department informed–congratulating the ambassador on the appointment–the prime minister expressed hope that Armenian-Greek political relations will go on to develop successfully. In Margarian’s words–as a result of the active dialogue started over the recent years–a necessary contractual and legal field has been created for enlarging the bilateral relations and active economic cooperation. Margarian also emphasized steps for deepening military-technical cooperation.
Vlavianos for his part assured of his country’s continued assistance to the armed forces of Armenia–adding that he was going to discuss a range of related issues with Armenian defense minister.
The ambassador also said that his country is going to assume the chairmanship of the European Union in the first half of the year 2003 and intends to take the initiative of deepening the integration of Armenia into the European family.
He also said that the Greek foreign minister is going to visit Armenia this summer–and issues of mutual interest will be discussed within the framework of his visit.
At the meeting–the participants emphasized the necessity for continuing the policy of using close historical and cultural connections of the Armenian and Greek peoples–the common historical grounds for the sake of welfare of both countries.