Armenian, Georgian PMs discuss possible intensification of border delimitation, demarcation process
YEREVAN. March 25 (Interfax) - Armenia and Georgia are set to intensify the border delimitation process, while Yerevan supports Georgia's aspiration to become a member of the EU, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
"Armenia and Georgia signed a strategic partnership declaration in Tbilisi on January 26. We discussed practical steps towards fulfilling this declaration today. An essential point of this document is the mutual recognition of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia and Georgia. Today we also discussed the possible intensification of the Armenian-Georgian delimitation and demarcation process," Pashinyan said at a joint press briefing with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Yerevan on Monday.
Broader and deeper cooperation with Georgia has a strategic significance to both Armenia and Georgia, while also being important for stability and mutually advantageous cooperation in the region, he said.
"Armenia was inspired by Georgia's EU candidate status. This is an important event that will have a direct influence on the region and bilateral relations between Armenia and Georgia. Armenia supports Georgia's aspiration to become a member of the EU," Pashinyan said.
He thanked Georgia for its assistance in the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process.
"We see and know that Georgia is not just interested but also trying to promote the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations through effective steps, and I would like to thank our colleagues in Georgia for that," Pashinyan said.
Armenia is committed to stability and peace in the region, he said.
"Armenia is ready to make progress in settling relations with Azerbaijan on the basis of three principles affirmed at the summit level, namely the mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the Almaty Declaration of 1991, delimitation and demarcation based on the Almaty Declaration, and the unblocking of regional communications based on national sovereignty," Pashinyan said.
In turn, Kobakhidze thanked Pashinyan for supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"I also support the territorial integrity of Armenia. I have underlined the importance of our joint steps so that we can cope with the region's challenges together. Georgia contributes to peace and stability in the South Caucasus," Kobakhidze said.
He said he was hoping for the conclusion of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"Georgia is ready to make a positive contribution to this process and to promote the provision of peace and stability in the region," Kobakhidze said.