After meeting in Yerevan on February 27, Georgian and Armenian Presidents, Giorgi Margvelashvili and Serzh Sargsyan, respectively, praised “brotherly” relations between the two countries.

“Traditionally we pay a huge significance to good neighborly relations with Georgia,” President Sargsyan said after the meeting. “Warm, friendly relations between the Armenian and Georgian peoples represent a guarantee for mutually beneficial cooperation and the best way for maintaining the stability in the region. Consistent strengthening of the Armenian-Georgian partnership is one of the major components of Armenia’s foreign policy agenda.”

He described talks with President Margvelashvili as “business-like and fruitful.”

President Sargsyan said that he and his Georgian counterpart are of the same opinion that “the choice of our countries in respect of economic development should never be an obstacle to our economic cooperation.”

“We believe that Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union and Georgia's decision to sign free trade agreement with the European Union will not hinder our [bilateral] economic relations,” the Armenian President said. “On the contrary, these decisions open up new opportunities for our businessmen. In this context, I would like to stress the importance of formation of a joint working group on trade issues, which will hold its first meeting on March 21.”

President Margvelashvili said on this issue: “Although Armenia’s political, or to be more precise, economic vector and Georgia’s future economic development are being carried out in different directions, we have similar visions in terms of our [bilateral] relations.”

The Armenian President said without specifying that during the meeting he discussed infrastructural projects in the South Caucasus region as “a major component for ensuring security and stability in the region.”

“We are of the same opinion that complete resolution of all the conflicts is possible only through peaceful means,” Sargsyan said.

He also stressed that the Armenian and Georgian peoples are tied by traditions, spiritual and cultural values. “It is the wealth that we are obliged to cherish and preserve,” the Armenian President said.

President Margvelashvili noted “a special role” played by ethnic Armenian citizens of Georgia “in economic, cultural and even political development of our country.”

Margvelashvili visit to Armenia came after his trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan. He said that these three neighboring countries of Georgia are willing to further deepen ties with Tbilisi.

“Georgia has a similar attitude – we are oriented towards deepening relations and stable future,” Margvelashvili said.

On the first day of his visit to Armenia, President Margvelashvili also met with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Speaker of Parliament Ovik Abramyan. On February 28 the Georgian President met with head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II.