Italy says Armenia is of strategic importance for RomeApril 6, 2018 - 18:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and the South Caucasus in general have a strategic importance for Italy, president Sergio Mattarella said at a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan on Friday, April 6. Sargsyan is in Italy to participate in the unveiling of a statue Armenian monk St. Gregory of Narek in the Vatican, which was held on Thursday. According to the Italian leader, he will be visiting Armenia, most probably in summer, to reaffirm the friendly relations between the two countries and give a new lease of life to bilateral relations. Weighing in on the economic ties, Mattarella hailed the growing Italian investments in Armenia which amount to about $200 million. The two also discussed the Comprehensive and Enhances Partnership Agreement signed between Yerevan and the European Union in November 2017, which, according to the Italian president, proves that the East and the West “are one whole”. Also, Mattarella said the deal can serve as a bridge between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. At the end of the meeting, the two discussed the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stressing that the OSCE Minsk Group is the only body mandated to mediate the process. Earlier, Sargsyan met Italian Senate president Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |