Georgian Foreign Minister: Cooperation between Tbilisi, Yerevan  enters qualitatively new stage

ArmInfo.Cooperation between Georgia and Armenia has entered a qualitatively new stage with the  signing of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership. The new stage has had a turning point in our multilateral cooperation," Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said at a joint briefing with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on July 3, as quoted by Sputnik Georgia.

According to Darchiashvili, at the meeting with the Armenian Foreign  Minister, the conversation touched on the political and economic  cooperation between the two countries. "We discussed the intensive  multidimensional cooperation that exists between our countries.  Armenia is among Georgia's top ten trade partners, and among the top  three in tourism. We have considered various areas, and I am  confident that economic cooperation between us, which is beneficial  for both countries, will further strengthen," Darchiashvili said. The  Armenian Foreign Minister, in turn, said that Yerevan is interested  in further deepening relations with Georgia, especially in the  customs sector. "Cooperation between Georgia and Armenia is indeed  developing rapidly in all areas - be it economics or security, from  education and culture to tourism and contacts between people. There  is important progress in trade, and we can expand our cooperation in  the customs sector, achieve new important results, and promote deeper  contacts between businesses and people," Mirzoyan said.

According to the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, this year has  been marked by intensive relations between the countries. "There is a  dynamic in our bilateral relations," Mirzoyan noted. -0- At the  meeting, the parties also expressed support for the territorial  integrity and sovereignty of the two countries and noted their  readiness to combat the challenges existing in the region. "We  discussed the current processes in the region, the existing  challenges and opportunities, and emphasized the importance of joint  efforts in combating these challenges," Darchiashvili said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry also voiced  Armenia's new expectations in Tbilisi.  "Armenia enthusiastically  received the news about granting Georgia the status of an EU  candidate, which is of great importance not only in the context of  Armenian-Georgian relations, but also in the context of regional  developments. I should say that there are also relations between the  Republic of Armenia and the EU, a new agenda of our views and  perspectives is being formed," said Mirzoyan. 

Georgia and Armenia established diplomatic relations in July 1992.  The countries cooperate in trade, transport, energy and tourism.  According to preliminary data, trade turnover between the countries  in 2023 amounted to $ 1.1 billion. In January 2023, the countries  signed an agreement "On bilateral visa-free movement of citizens  between Georgia and the Republic of Armenia", which entered into  force on July 13, 2023. The agreement allows citizens of Armenia and  Georgia to cross the border between the countries with ID cards. In  January 2024, Georgia and Armenia signed an agreement on strategic  partnership in Tbilisi.