Armenia notes positive atmosphere for building relations with Saudi

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will greatly contribute to the progress of Yerevan-Riyadh relations, the Armenian Foreign Ministry has said, according to Armenpress.

The ministry said that despite the absence of diplomatic ties, contacts at different levels between Armenia and Saudi Arabia have taken place over the past years. According to Yerevan, it’s been a long time that this process is underway.

“In general, it can be said that has been formed for the mutual cooperation with the Saudi side”, the ministry said.

Asked whether the President’s visit could contribute to achieving progress in the establishment of diplomatic ties or creating good preconditions for that, the ministry said: “Since the independence of Armenia, relations with the countries of the Middle East are among the key directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, taking into account both Armenia’s geographical position and the deep historical-cultural ties. Armenia has adopted a policy of strengthening and deepening ties with the countries of the region, expanding the cooperation with them in areas of mutual interest, and this policy is also reflected in the Armenian government’s 2021-2026 action plan. From this perspective we are confident that President Armen Sarkissian’s working visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at participating in the Future Investment Initiative international forum and his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will significantly contribute to the progress of the Armenian-Saudi inter-state relations.”

In response to the question whether Armenia plans to take any steps through diplomatic means or whether contacts have taken place with the Saudi side, the ministry added: “It’s worth mentioning that Armenian-Saudi contacts at different levels have been recorded over the past years, therefore this process exists for a long time. In general, it can be said that a positive atmosphere has been formed for the mutual partnership with the Saudi side.

On October 26, 2021, President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian paid the first visit to Saudi Arabia, one of the key countries of the Arab-Islamic world, in the history of independent Armenia.