Armenian, Georgian Politicians Reaffirm Friendly Ties

YEREVAN—A governmental delegation led by Armenia’s Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian met with Georgian officials on Thursday while on an official visit to Tbilisi at the invitation of Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Prime Ministers Abrahamian and Garibashvili met with media representatives after their meeting and issued a joint statement summing up their meeting.

Abrahamian mentioned that the meeting was held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere, adding that the sides reaffirmed the existing strong, friendly relations between the two countries and the willingness to further develop those relations and discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest that were related to trade and economic relations, the development of infrastructures, the improvement of transportation, as well as the deepening of humanitarian and cultural relations. Garibashvili mentioned that the passing year stood out for its active relations between Armenia and Georgia and that Thursday’s meeting was the continuation of the dialogue over issues of mutual interest that began in Yerevan.

Garibashvili said that Armenia and Georgia will use their respective memberships in different economic unions for the interests of both countries.

“Armenia and Georgia have close political and economic ties, and in spite of the fact that Armenia will be joining the Eurasian Economic Union in January, Georgia has signed an associated agreement with Armenia. Accession to the EEU won’t have an impact on our relations. We will use it for the interests of our countries,” Georgia’s Prime Minister said. Garibashvili also emphasized that Armenia and Georgia are especially focused on maintaining the existing trade regime between the two countries and the further development of economic relations.