Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus were held in Yerevan. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy FM Paruyr Hovhannisyan, and the Cypriot one by Secretary General of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kornelios Korneliou.
During said consultations, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues of the Armenian-Cypriot bilateral political agenda, emphasizing with satisfaction the high level of political dialogue. The sides exchanged thoughts on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest, including cooperation within the EU. The parties expressed readiness to make efforts to fully realize the existing potential of bilateral cooperation.
The importance of the trilateral cooperation formed between Armenia, Cyprus and Greece was particularly emphasized.
Paruyr Hovhannisyan presented details of the consequences of blocking the free movement of people and goods through the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, stressing that Artsakh is facing the threat of a humanitarian crisis. He also emphasized that the illegal actions, belligerent rhetoric, and maximalist approach of the leadership of Azerbaijan are seriously undermining the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
On the same day, the Cypriot delegation visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.
Speaking exclusively to Pentapostagma, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Greece and Cyprus, Mr. Tigran Mkrtchyan, commented that "the trilateral cooperation between Armenia, Greece and Cyprus has been steadily growing over the last two years. Its main direction is of political nature with the Foreign Ministries being the main driving institutions and the Foreign Ministers of our countries meeting on a regular basis in our capitals and also on the sidelines of international organizations".
"In addition to the political dialogue over this period the trilateral format has developed in the issues of diaspora cooperation. In the defense sector too we have been having trilateral exercises which is of utmost importance. I believe the trilateral cooperation will soon reach heads of states' level and I hope we will be able to organize the first trilateral summit", the Armenian ambassador concluded.
For Greece, Armenia is a historical ally, a fact highlighted by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in September, when he said that historical tragedies connect the two nations.
Dendias was speaking in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, where he met his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan. The head of Greek diplomacy said that Greece has repeatedly underlined its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. "Thus, this also applies to our dear friends, the Armenians, Armenia," he stressed.
“We believe in the inviolability of borders, and I am referring to the incidents that happened just a few days ago following the shelling of Armenian territory, including inhabited areas, by the Azeri military forces,” Dendias said, referring to Azerbaijan's unprovoked attack on Armenian territory in September.
