YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS.  Political consultations between the foreign ministries of Armenia and Malta were held on Monday in Valletta under the leadership of Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paruyr Hovhannisyan and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta Christopher Cutajar.

According to the readout issued by the foreign ministry of Armenia, the parties highlighted the start of the first political consultations, emphasizing the importance of holding periodic consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

They discussed a wide range of issues related to both bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries on multilateral platforms, emphasizing the need to develop and expand existing cooperation in the economy, high technologies, culture, education, tourism, and other fields. The issue of further deepening Armenia-EU partnership was also addressed at the meeting.

The deputy foreign minister presented his counterpart the security situation in the South Caucasus, as well as the steps towards the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Issues related to regional transport and economic programs were addressed. In that context, Hovhannisyan presented Armenia’s  "Crossroads of Peace" project. Thoughts were also exchanged on other issues related to the international agenda.

Within the framework of political consultations, Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan had meetings with the Head of the Foreign and European Commission of the Parliament of Malta, Edward Zammit Lewis, and the members of the commission.