Tuesday, March 6 2018 17:35

ArmInfo. Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Republic of Armenia Leonidas Markides (residence in Moscow).

 

The President congratulated the Ambassador on his assumption of office and stressed that it is necessary to continue using all possibilities to preserve and expand the high- level relations traditionally existing between Armenia and Cyprus and the warm friendship of the two peoples for many centuries. President Sargsyan spoke with satisfaction of the active high-level Armenian- Cypriot political dialogue and close contacts both at the bilateral interstate and party levels, as well as within the framework of international structures.

In the context of cooperation at international venues, the President of the Republic touched upon the upcoming 17th Francophonie summit in Yerevan on October 11-12, noting that he had sent an invitation to the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiadis, to participate in this important event. The President highly appreciated the role of interparliamentary diplomacy in the relations of the two friendly countries and noted with satisfaction the close cooperation established between the legislative bodies.

From the point of view of developing cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, the importance of the Agreement on comprehensive and expanded partnership signed in November 2017 between Armenia and the European Union was also stressed. The interlocutors expressed a common opinion that much more needs to be done in the direction of deepening the Armenian-Cypriot trade and economic relations, so that they reach the existing high level of political relations. Ambassador Leonidas Markides expressed gratitude to the President for the meeting and acceptance of his credentials, noting that, on an interesting coincidence, today at the same moment, the Armenian Ambassador hands over his credentials to President Anastasiadis. "This, of course, is a coincidence, but I think the important coincidence that occurs between very good friends.

Relations between our countries could not have been better, but we, Mr. President, agree with you that we must continue to take steps to move them forward," said the Ambassador of Cyprus. At the meeting, President Sargsyan and Ambassador Markides discussed Armenian-Cypriot relations in various fields, as well as opportunities and prospects for deepening cooperation.