Armenian PM, Russian deputy PM discuss bilateral cooperation, unblocking transport links in S. Caucasus

YEREVAN. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk discussed interaction within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Moscow-Yerevan relations at a meeting in Yerevan on Friday.

"The sides discussed pressing aspects of Armenian-Russian relations in the context of the work done by the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, alongside interaction in the EAEU format," the Armenian government's press service said.

Pashinyan and Overchuk also addressed the possible unblocking of transport and economic links in the South Caucasus, the press service said.

"Pashinyan said that the Armenian government had presented the Crossroads of Peace project and was ready to unblock regional transport links on the basis of the principles of sovereignty, equality and reciprocity," it said.

A statement on the Russian government website says that Overchuk and Pashinyan discussed "current aspects of Russian-Armenian relations in the context of the operations of the Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, further cooperation in the EAEU, and the transition of the EAEU presidency from Russia to Armenia in 2024."

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin attended the meeting, the website said.

"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted at the meeting that the Armenian government had presented the Crossroads of Peace project and was ready to unblock regional transport infrastructure on the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity," it said.

The EAEU presidency will pass to Armenia in 2024.

"Hopefully, we will be able to continue our joint constructive work in the bilateral and multilateral formats within the EAEU and CIS framework, which aims for the sustainable development of our common Eurasian region, during the year of Armenia's EAEU presidency," the website said.

The 22nd meeting of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Overchuk and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan is taking place in Yerevan on Friday.