Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Greece on an official visit, has chaired a top-level meeting in the country’s capital, Athens, after private talks with his Greek counterpart, Prokopios Pavlopoulos.
The Armenian leader hailed the two countries’ centuries-old friendship, praising the traditions inherited from the dawn of civilization. “Representing two ancient civilizations, the Armenian and Greek peoples created culture side by side, leaving their trace on the chapters of world history. They struggled side by side, earning the right to existence. And they stand side by stand also today – as bearers of shared values and morals. Relying on that heritage, we continue strengthening the Armenian-Greek friendship which gained an interstate importance 24 years ago.
“Today, we have an enriched bilateral agenda, ranging from an active political dialogue to cooperation in education and culture. We are closely collaborating in the military sector. Greece is among our key partners in the Armenia-EU relations. The high-ranking visits, which have become repeated, give us an opportunity to outline new prospects of cooperation. A fair example of this statement of mine is my current visit, which is aimed at upgrading our economic relations to a new level, relying on the existing potential,” he said.
Greeting President Sargsyan and his delegation, the Greek leader agreed that the official visit demonstrates the willingness to develop and deepen cooperation in most different sectors. Noting that the two nations are tied by the firm bonds of history and friendship, Mr Pavlopoulos said he thinks that the existing high-level interstate relations were shaped over the course of centuries, resisting the hardships and challenges of time.
“In the early 20th century, the two peoples experienced moments of suffering that had a common cause. History bears witness to that, describing the [plight] of the Armenian people, the Pontic Greeks and those in Asia Minor. We will never forget the 1915 Armenian Genocide. We are proud that Greece was among the first countries to give home to the Armenian exiles and also the first country to recognize the Genocide against Armenians, with the Armenian parliament, on the other hand, recognizing the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks. We must bear in mind, Mr President, to that historical memory is important for humanity’s collective existence, as well as from the point of view of its future,” he added.
The Greek president further spoke of broad possibilities of development and the bilateral ties promising good perspectives.