Georgia, Armenia sign strategic partnership deal

A memorandum establishing a strategic partnership between Georgia and Armenia was signed, as announced by Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, during a joint press conference with Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan in Tbilisi. 

Garibashvili emphasized the “enduring friendship and partnership” between Georgia and Armenia, noting that this “significant alliance” was formally solidified through the signing of the memorandum.

“The decision we reached today is a culmination of months of collaborative efforts. Last summer, we announced our intention to sign a memorandum of strategic cooperation. It is important to highlight that, historically, we have been strong allies and friends, extending beyond mere neighbors. Our nations share a robust partnership, engaging in cooperation across various domains. In essence, we have long been strategic friends and partners, and today, we have officially formalized and signed the agreement for strategic partnership,” Garibashvili said. 

The Georgian official emphasized the need to maintain current pace in advancing new, regionally significant projects and reaffirmed his office’s commitment for lasting peace in the South Caucasus. 

“Georgia has consistently advocated for the establishment of long-term peace and stability in the region. The Prime Minister is well aware of our government’s position, and we remain committed to contributing to the creation of enduring peace, benefiting the countries and people of the region as a whole,” he stated.

Expressing optimism about the ongoing dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Garibashvili expressed hope for the “prompt signing” of a peace agreement between the two nations. He emphasized the positive impact such an agreement would have on maintaining the existing peace and stability in the region, benefiting regional countries and their citizens.

Highlighting the “impressive economic growth” in both Georgia and Armenia, Garibashvili stressed the importance of sustaining this “positive momentum”. He reiterated that December marked a “significant milestone” for Georgia, as the country attained candidate status for the European Union.