In the framework of his working visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan held private talks with NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan, followed by a joint consultation of the governments of Armenia and Artsakh, chaired by the two heads of government.
Welcoming the RA government delegation, NKR Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan thanked Karen Karapetyan for accepting the invitation to visit Artsakh.
Congratulating Karen Karapetyan on being awarded Mesrop Mashtots Order on the part of the President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan said the award was the acknowledgement of Karen Karapetyan’s years-long valuable efforts, and went on to note that he had contributed to numerous projects implemented in almost all socio-economic areas, including energy, agriculture and humanitarian programs.
“I would like to wish you every success, Mr. Prime Minister, as you assume such an important mission at this time of great responsibility, This is not a job, neither a service; it is just a mission and, in a sense, our nation’s future depends on your success. I am convinced that the resource of confidence that you enjoy nationwide – not only in Armenia, but also in Artsakh and the Diaspora – is the key to success. Not only Armenia will progress, but also Artsakh will boast new achievements in terms of socio-economic development and security during your term of office,” Arayik Harutyunyan said.
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Thanking Arayik Harutyunyan for words of high appreciation, Karen Karapetyan noted that his remarks implied a high responsibility. The Prime Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of regular working meetings between the governments of the two Armenian States.
“I would like to state that the Prime Minister of Artsakh is not only my personal friend, but also my ideological partner: we share the same approaches and principles in terms of economic development,” he said, adding that the government of Armenia will explore the programs implemented in Nagorno-Karabakh, specifically in agriculture, and are prepared to discuss a number of problems concerning the energy sector.
Stressing the importance of Nagorno-Karabakh’s intensive development and self-sufficiency in the energy sector, the Premier highlighted the need to consider the possibility of creating a common energy framework. The head of the Armenian government expressed confidence that meetings like this will be held as necessary to build up steadfast working relationship. Karen Karapetyan said to be looking forward to effective collaboration aimed at identifying the existing problems and finding appropriate solutions.
After giving an overview of Artsakh’s socio-economic development indicators in 2007-2015, the NKR Prime Minister made a presentation of the Artsakh Investment Fund and the NKR Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation. During the meeting, the members of the governments of Armenia and Artsakh discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields and outlined future plans. The speakers emphasized once again the RA government’s willingness to respond quickly to any project related to the development of Artsakh.
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Karen Karapetyan visited the Stepanakert memorial complex to lay flowers and wreaths at the monuments perpetrating the memory of those killed in the Great Patriotic War and during the Shushi liberation campaign.
The Prime Minister of Armenia next called at the nearby fraternal cemetery of those freedom fighters perished in the Artsakh war, laid flowers on their graves, paying tribute to our heroes.