Ambassador: President of Czech Republic will pay visit to Armenia this year

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. President oftheCzech Republic MilošZeman will pay a visit to Armenia this year, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Czech Republic to Armenia Petr Mikiska told “Armenpress”. The Ambassador gave an interview to “Armenpress” focusing on Armenian-Czech relations.

-Mr. Ambassador, how would you assess the current cooperation level between Armenia and the Czech Republic?

-We are in the best phase of developing relations. The relations between our two states have never been on such a high level. From the political standpoint I have to mention that this year the President of our country will pay a visit to Armenia once more. We hosted the Armenian President in January 2014. We regularly conduct high level mutual visits, which foster development of relations in new spheres. Recently, the MinisterofIndustry and Tradeof theCzechRepublic was in Yerevan and he held very effective negotiations with his counterpart, reaching an agreement over a range of issues, including over holding the session of the intergovernmental commission, which will take place in April, Prague. These visits foster development of both states almost in all spheres. From political perspective, we have rather far-going goals, let alone parliamentary diplomacy. Chairman of theChamber of Deputiesofthe Czech Republic,JanHamáček visited Yerevan in December. The speaker of the Armenian parliament has visited Prague. In a word, bilateral political dialogue is on a very high level.

As for economy, it gives reasons for optimism. We are not on a low level, but we know that there is much more potential. And first of all Armenia has potential. Armenian exports to the Czech Republic are very low: We would like it to rise. We realize that if Armenia does not manage to successfully export its products, it will not develop economically. We try to promote Armenian exports, and hope that the session of the intergovernmental commission will serve that goal.

-What would you tell about cooperation in education? Are there many Armenian students in the Czech Republic and vice the versa?

-To be honest, I am not aware of the number of Czech students in Armenia because the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia is responsible for that and we have not been informed about the numbers. I only know that there are students. As refers to Armenian students in the Czech Republic, Armenian students study there bases on three programs. By the first program, they receive a scholarship from the Government of the Czech Republic. 5-6 students receive a full scholarship annually. There are also university scholarships when they receive the scholarship from the universities they study. And there are students who study at their expense. If we talk by numbers, there are 80-10 students.

-Can we expect Armenian-Czech culture days to be conducted in one of the countries?

-Let’s hope. We would like to bring a jazz band and organize an exhibition in Yerevan. I think we are on the right path. I know that my colleague in Prague, Armenia’s Ambassador, is a very vigorous person. We encounter Armenian culture there every day. Recently, a key concert of Komitas music was held performed by the OrchestraofCharles UniversityinPrague. Interestingly, the conductor and the director of the University Orchestra is renowned Armenian musician Hayk Utichyan. I know that numerous exhibitions are held in Prague and, by the way, many Armenian painters live there. Culture Minister of Armenia opened an exhibition of Armenian painters during her visit to Prague in 2014. The paintings were astonishing.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Czechoslovakia were established in 1992. After Czechoslovakia was disintegrated in 1993. Armenia established diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic.

Roza Grigoryan