Armenia, UK Aim to Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership

Yerevan and London have reaffirmed their readiness to raise Armenia-UK relations to the level of a strategic partnership and to consistently achieve this goal through joint efforts.

The topic was discussed at the government on August 26, during a meeting between RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty. As reported by the Government, the Prime Minister welcomed the Minister of State's visit to Armenia and expressed satisfaction with the successful phase of the Armenia-UK strategic dialogue.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that Stephen Doughty's visit to the region is taking place at a very important and even historic time, considering the agreements reached in Washington, which create a basis for stability and predictability in the South Caucasus, broader regional cooperation and development.

Stephen Doughty congratulated the Prime Minister on the historic results achieved in Washington in normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and advancing the peace agenda. He emphasized the United Kingdom's support for this process.

The interlocutors stressed that the cooperation between Armenia and the United Kingdom is based on common values: democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental human rights.

Next, the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the further development and expansion of Armenia-United Kingdom cooperation. The importance of conducting studies on economic projects of mutual interest, implementing joint investment programs, and more active involvement of British companies in infrastructure and other projects in Armenia was highlighted.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the active participation of the United Kingdom in the European Political Community Summit and the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) to be held in Armenia next year. Views were also exchanged on other issues of mutual interest.