Armenian-Czech cooperation reaches qualitatively new level: Serzh Sargsyan

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan gave an interview to the Czech Lidové noviny (People's News) newspaper. “Armenpress” was informed from the Department for Mass Media and Public Relations of the President’s staff of the Republic of Armenia that the interview was held within the frameworks of the President’s official visit to the Czech Republic.

Question- How do you assess the current situation of Armenian-Czech relations?

Serzh Sargsyan- Friendship between Armenian and Czech people has a history of several centuries. Despite the fact that the Armenian community in the Czech Republic has been formed relatively recently, and the inter-state cooperation has a history of only 22 years, even in that short period we have reached qualitatively new level of cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats. We attach great importance to cooperation with the Czech Republic both within the frames of the EU different initiatives, primarily the Eastern Partnership, and within international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

This is the first visit of the highest level in the history of our joint relations. The status of the official visit gives evidence about not only the level of the political dialogue, but also our attitude towards developing prospective mutually beneficial partnership.

There is considerable potential for the development of trade and economic cooperation. That was the reason I visited Prague accompanied by a delegation of businessmen. The signing of more than ten agreements within the frameworks of my visit will have positive its impact on the development of partnership and expansion of ties in that area.

In some areas the Armenian-Czech cooperation is in the stage of formation, while in the areas of science, education and culture we have rich experience of cooperation. Our societies and nations profess the same values, have a rich cultural heritage. The Ministries of Culture made an agreement on holding Czech Culture Days in Yerevan this year, and holding Armenian Culture Days in Prague next year.