YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Portugal Mikayel Minasyan (residence in Vatican) delivered his credentials to the President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on January 16, “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

During the conversation following the official ceremony of handing the credentials, Ambassador Minasyan conveyed the warm wishes of the Armenian President to the Portuguese President. The interlocutors touched upon the historically cordial relations between Armenia and Portugal, as well as the rich cultural heritage.  The Armenian Ambassador highlighted the development of economic relations, stressing the necessity of taking practical steps for bringing those relations to a new qualitative level. In the sidelines of his visit to Portugal, Ambassador Minasyan met with Secretary General of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ana MartinhoHead of the Directorate for Security and Defense Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal António Sabido Costa. Issues of mutual interest in political and cultural sphere were discussed at the meetings. The importance of different level mutual visits was highlighted in the context of developing bilateral relations.

During the meeting with the leadership of the Portuguese Agency for Foreign Investment and Commerce (AICEP) Ambassador Minasyan discussed issues of fostering Armenian-Portuguese economic relations.

In the sidelines of the visit to Portugal, Mikayel Minasyan also met with Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, visited Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation where he met with the Director of the Foundation Artur Santos Silva  and the Director of the Armenian Communities Department Razmik Panossian.