British Foreign Office Minister Leo Docherty has said that Britain’s strong alliances with Turkey and Azerbaijan shouldn’t hinder London having a deep and meaningful relationship with Armenia.

The senior British official paid a visit to Armenia and held meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

British-Armenian relations were on the agenda of Docherty’s talks with the Armenian leaders. The two sides agreed to embark on a “strategic dialogue” aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

“You are right to state that we have very strong alliances with Turkey as a fellow NATO member and with Azerbaijan as a close partner, especially with regards to energy,” said the British official in an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

“But those relationships shouldn’t hinder our having a deep and meaningful relationship with Armenia.”