Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zaharieva.
Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the frequently reciprocated high-level meetings help develop political dialogue between the two countries and implement new economic opportunities. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the March session of the Armenian-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission and the business forum held on its margins.
“Armenia is keen to deepen partnership with Bulgaria, both bilaterally and within the EU. The European Union is a key partner on Armenia’s democratic reform agenda, and the strengthening of relations with Bulgaria and the exchange of experience with Eastern European countries stem from this logic,” the Prime Minister said, expressing gratitude to Bulgaria for speedy ratification of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the role of the Armenian community in Bulgaria in strengthening bilateral ties.
Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister noted in turn that the recently activated high-level contacts and discussions come as an evidence of the importance the two countries attach to bilateral relations. “Bulgaria supports Armenia’s democratic development agenda, the expansion of EU-Armenia partnership and our country is prepared to share its reform experience. It is no coincidence that Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the EU to ratify the CEPA,” Ekaterina Zaharieva noted.
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The Armenian Prime Minister and the Bulgarian Deputy Premier referred to the process of visa liberalization with the European Union, talked about the importance of democratic transformations in the fight against corruption, the judicial reform, exchange of experience in the process of structural reforms. The prospects of regional initiatives were discussed during the meeting. The interlocutors discussed issues related to the development of trade and economic relations.
Mindful of achieving a new level of economic cooperation, Nikol Pashinyan stressed the need for launching direct air communications to promote business contacts and tourist exchanges. The Premier described as quite prospective the prospects of cooperation in transport, information technologies, infrastructure and other spheres.
Sharing Nikol Pashinyan’s view, Ekaterina Zaharieva noted that direct air communications might promote the development of trade, investment and tourism relations. Arrangements were made on the steps to be taken in a bid to record tangible achievements in the abovementioned areas.
Taking the opportunity, the interlocutors exchanged views on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Appreciative of Bulgaria’s balanced position on the conflict, the Prime Minister stressed that Armenia sees the settlement of the conflict through peaceful negotiations in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Ekaterina Zaharieva reaffirmed Bulgaria’s balanced position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and noted that Bulgaria supports the ongoing peace process under the OSCE Minsk Group mandate.
INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME-MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA