Friday, May 20 2022 18:44

ArmInfo.RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received  the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, who is in  Armenia on an official visit, and the delegation led by him

As the press service of the RA PM reports, in his welcoming remarks,  the Prime Minister of Armenia said,

"Dear Mr. President, Dear colleagues, I welcome you in Armenia and  your visit to our country. I recall my last visit to Lithuania with  warmth, by which we started a very important dialogue that should  continue. I think we should try to use this visit for the  intensification of our bilateral relations. Receiving you on an  official visit in our country is a very good sign, we can say that  our bilateral visits and relations have gained a certain dynamics,  which we should maintain.

Thank you for visiting us, for the readiness to support us and to  promote the further development of our relations. I think we will  discuss a wide range of issues and agenda related to our bilateral  relations and the international, regional situation. I will be glad  to hear your assessments and views on the current situation, our  bilateral relations, international developments and, of course, also  on our regional situation. Thank you, welcome."

In turn, the President of Lithuania said,

"Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

First of all, I would like to thank you for the warm reception which  I felt in all the structures, starting from the presidential  residence, and now here in the government. I think there are two  topics that are very important. One, as you mentioned, is the  bilateral relations between our countries. You mentioned your visit,  which I remember very well, last fall in Vilnius, and now my task is  to revive our relations in the economic, cultural and educational  spheres. This is why I did not come alone. Not only are my advisers  with me, but my delegation also includes the Deputy Ministers of  Transport and Agriculture.  It is very important to find niches in  the market where we can really work, and I think, given the fact that  Lithuania is moving to a higher value-added economy, there will be  new areas of mutual interest, such as biotechnology, finance,  information and communication technologies that are developing very  fast in our country and make up a large percentage of the GDP."

The interlocutors discussed the agenda of Armenia-Lithuania relations  and development prospects. Nikol Pashinyan praised Lithuania's  support for Armenia's democracy, in response to which Gitanas Nauseda  reaffirmed Lithuania's readiness to continue supporting Armenia's  democratic path and the government's reform agenda. The parties  reaffirmed their readiness to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation  in the economic, technological, educational and cultural spheres.

During the meeting the sides exchanged views on regional situation  and developments.  The Prime Minister presented the positions of the  Republic of Armenia on the demarcation and delimitation of the  Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh  conflict, the unblocking of communication channels. Nikol Pashinyan  referred to the agreements reached during the meetings mediated by  international partners, emphasizing that Armenia is guided by the  peace agenda, but that process cannot be unilateral. In this context,  the Prime Minister attached importance to the support of the  international community and its targeted response to actions aimed at  disrupting stability in the region.  Gitanas Nauseda noted that  peace, stability and economic growth are of common interest to the  countries of the region, Lithuania and the European Union, and that  Lithuania will continue to contribute to the establishment of  regional dialogue, stability and prosperity.

Nikol Pashinyan thanked for that readiness and praised the efforts of  the EU, President of the European Council Charles Michel, which,  together with the efforts of other international partners, contribute  to the creation of an atmosphere of dialogue.

The sides stressed the need for a comprehensive settlement of the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group  Co-Chairs. Issues related to the preservation of the Armenian  religious and cultural heritage in Artsakh and the involvement of  UNESCO in that process were also touched upon.  The sides emphasized  the role of democracy in serving security challenges, protecting  human rights, the rule of law, the success in sectoral reforms, and  ensuring economic growth. The President of Lithuania noted that his  country has some experience and is ready to share with Armenia, to  exchange information. Prime Minister Pashinyan welcomed the proposal,  noting that Armenia attaches importance to the study of the  experience of countries with successful development.