ArmInfo. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan positively assessed the talks with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Making a statement to the press on November 22, the Prime Minister noted that these productive negotiations once again confirmed the high level of Armenian-Italian relations, as well as mutual readiness to give new impetus to their development. It was noted that Armenia appreciates the adoption in April of this year by the Italian Chamber of Deputies of a resolution calling on the government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. "By this step, the Italian side reaffirmed its commitment to universal values, thereby contributing to the prevention of such crimes," Pashinyan said. According to him, during the talks, special attention was paid to trade and economic relations between the two countries. "I should note with satisfaction that tangible dynamics have been recorded in this area this year. At the moment, Italy is our second trade and economic partner in the EU, and there are all the necessary prerequisites for giving these relations a new impetus", the Prime Minister emphasized. During the meeting, the work of the Armenian-Italian intergovernmental commission was highly appreciated, and the possibilities of holding a meeting of the Commission in Yerevan were discussed. Issues of promoting tourism development were also raised, and the fact that Ryanair airline will launch direct flights from Yerevan to Rome and Milan from January 2020 was positively assessed. Mutual readiness to protect the cultural heritage of both states was also noted.
The Prime Minister also voiced a wish that Italy be more actively involved in the educational system of Armenia.
"I appreciate Italy's assistance in developing the Armenia-EU partnership and in starting negotiations on visa facilitation," he added. Pashinyan presented to Conte the current stage of the Karabakh settlement, reaffirming Armenia's readiness to continue working in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group towards a peaceful resolution of the problem.
The parties also touched upon the implementation of the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon by the Armenian peacekeepers, exchanged views on the crisis in Syria, expressed concern about the military progress of the Turkish armed forces in the direction of the northeastern regions.