Armenia, Georgia sign declaration on strategic partnership

ArmInfo.Bilateral documents were signed within the framework of the meeting of the intergovernmental  commission for economic cooperation between Armenia and Georgia held in Tbilisi, which was chaired by Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili.

Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili signed the minutes of the  "13th session of the intergovernmental commission for economic  cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and Georgia" and the  declaration "On the establishment of strategic partnership between  the Republic of Armenia and Georgia".

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat  Mirzoyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia  Darchiashvili signed the agreement between the Government of the  Republic of Armenia and the Government of Georgia on the  implementation of paid activities by the family members of the staff  of diplomatic missions and consular institutions.

Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Arman Khojoyan  and Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of  Georgia Tengiz Nasaridze signed a memorandum of understanding "On  cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Ministry of  Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Environmental  Protection and Agriculture of Georgia".

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of  Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan and Deputy Minister of IDPs from  Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia  Tamila Barkalaia signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the  Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and  Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social  Affairs of Georgia on cooperation in the field of labor and social  protection.

The regular session of the intergovernmental commission on economic  cooperation between Armenia and Georgia was held in Tbilisi under the  leadership of Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia, Nikol Pashinyan  and Irakli Garibashvili.

In his welcoming speech, the Prime Minister of Georgia said: "Mr.  Prime Minister, dear friend, I welcome you, I welcome your  delegation. Dear members of the delegation, I am glad to see you. I  thank my dear colleague, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, for visiting Georgia.  It is a great honor to host you in Georgia once again.

I want to note the importance of the meeting of the intergovernmental  commission on economic cooperation. We know that the  intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation is the best way  to strengthen the transport, cultural and economic ties between our  countries. The signing of the declaration of strategic economic  partnership between Armenia and Georgia makes today's meeting even  more important.  We were already strategic partners, and all this  should be formalized today. I think this is a very important  historical decision, which will further promote our relations,  strengthen friendship and partnership.

I welcome you once again, I want to ask Mr. Prime Minister to deliver  a welcom speech."

Prime Minister Pashinyan specifically noted in his speech,

"Dear Prime Minister Garibashvili, Dear participants of the session,  Ladies and gentlemen,

I heartily greet the Prime Minister of Georgia, my good friend Irakli  Garibashvili, and all the participants of the 13th session of the  Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between the  Republic of Armenia and Georgia.

First of all, I would like to thank our Georgian colleagues for the  traditional warm reception.

I must note that today the relations between our countries have  entered a qualitatively new stage and recorded success in various  fields, and the fact that the meetings of the intergovernmental  commission are chaired at the level of the prime ministers speaks of  the appreciation of bilateral relations.

The economic cooperation between our countries has great potential,  and our task is to contribute to its full disclosure and  implementation. In this regard, the intergovernmental commission for  economic cooperation has an important place in deepening and  strengthening the economic ties between the sides.

I would like to state with satisfaction that the agenda of the  session of the intergovernmental commission is quite inclusive and  covers such areas of bilateral cooperation as transport,  communication, energy, information technology, healthcare, tourism,  agriculture, education and science, culture, environmental  protection, etc. I attach importance to the full implementation of  the agreements reached within the framework of the session, which  will give new quality and substance to the relations between our  countries.

I am happy to report that last year the volume of trade between the  two countries exceeded 1 billion US dollars. I am sure that this is  not the maximum, and in the coming years, the positive dynamics of  the trade turnover will be preserved, thanks to the growth of the  economies of the two countries and the deepening of interaction.

Dear attendees, Honorable Mr. Prime Minister.

Due to the existing realities in the relations between the two  countries, new opportunities have been created for cooperation and  implementation of joint projects. In this regard, it is noteworthy  that a decision was made on the establishment of a strategic  partnership between Armenia and Georgia. I am confident that this  format corresponds to the existing level of relations between our  countries, and will also open new opportunities for further deepening  of interaction.

Concluding my speech, I would like to thank you again for organizing  the reception of the Armenian delegation at a high level and wish  success and effective work to the participants of the session. Thank  you."