Armenian president calls for trust-building, joint regional projects with neighbors

President Vahagn Khachaturyan said Armenia should build mutual trust with its neighbors, resolve regional issues without mediators and pursue joint projects to establish lasting peace.

He said this path will make it possible to truly turn Armenia into a “Crossroads of Peace.”

“When I look at what could happen in our region in the future, if no additional problems arise and we ourselves try to resolve our issues with our neighbors without any mediation, I am convinced that we will achieve success, regardless of everything,” Khachaturyan said in response to an Armenpress question during a press conference summarizing his official visit to the Czech Republic about what kind of region could emerge in the coming decades as a result of the peace policy currently being pursued.

According to the President, a new situation has emerged in the region, with the opportunities, desire and willingness necessary for peace and cooperation.

“Now the situation is completely different. Now there are opportunities, desire and willingness. We ourselves must be able to build mutual trust with our neighbors and implement joint programs.

I mean both TRIPP and, later, energy and, why not, other joint programs that will be beneficial not only to our individual countries but also to the entire region,” the President of Armenia said.

Khachaturyan said that Armenia ought to use the opportunity created for regional cooperation and in practice become a “Crossroads of Peace.”

“Now we have a new opportunity and we are obliged to use that opportunity, truly become a ‘Crossroads of Peace,’” the President emphasized.

President Khachaturyan was in Prague on an official visit from September 2-4. He met with President Petr Pavel, held meetings at the Czech Senate and Chamber of Deputies, delivered a speech at CEVRO University, and met with representatives of the Armenian community.