Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by senior ministers, visited Georgia on Friday (26 January) for meetings with prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and senior Georgian officials.

Garibashvili and  Pashinyan on Friday discussed the “fruitful” bilateral ties after signing an agreement on upgrading them to a strategic co-operation. In a face-to-face meeting in Tbilisi before the launch of an Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission session at the Government office, Garibashvili expressed confidence the new deal would strengthen the bilateral cooperation, the Georgian Government press office said. 

In his remarks, Garibashvili noted the two states had “always been strategic friends and partners”, adding “this reality has officially been signed today”. “We discussed important matters concerning the existing relations, partnership, and cooperation between the two countries in all directions”, he said.

We have a very good partnership, relationship, cooperation in all directions and de facto, it can be said that we were already strategic friends and strategic partners. Today, it can be said, this reality has been formalised, and we officially signed a cooperation agreement on strategic partnership”

Garibashvili also called Georgia and Armenia “traditionally [and] historically very strong allies” and “friends, not just neighbours”.

Security considerations in the region and wider world were among the issues discussed, with the Georgian Prime Minister pointing to the significance of “supporting peace and stability” in the South Caucasus, noting such efforts would unlock “fresh opportunities” for the region.

He added:

We observe the ongoing dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia [to resolve the long-running dispute between the states over the Nagorno-Karabakh region] with great optimism. I wish to convey our hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will expeditiously reach a peace agreement, undoubtedly contributing to the reinforcement and sustenance of the prevailing peace in the region -  an imperative for our nations. 

The meeting also acknowledged Georgia's “pivotal role and efforts” in promoting peace, including with its hosting of a meeting between the PMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Tbilisi last year, with the efforts aimed at resolving their long-running conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.