Prime minister expects active work from Armenian diplomats

The Armenian government will deepen the active and initiative foreign economic policy and mutually complementary relations with all the partners, using the opportunities of economic integration, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan stated at the meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions, consulates, and the central staff of Armenian Foreign Ministry.

According to the press office of the government, the matter concerns in particular Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the formation of a new legal format of cooperation with the European Union.

H. Abrahamyan said that the GSP status granted to Armenia by the EU will make European markets more attractive to Armenian exporters and promote exports of Armenian goods to Europe.

“The Armenian economy today is most liberal and attractive to foreign investors. From this viewpoint it is important to do work aimed at improving Armenia’s investment authority, organize international investment forums, business forums and campaigns through influential financial and business publications.

Priority is also given to work on the development of relations with international financial and economic structures, ensuring Armenia’s energy security, lifting the blockade, diversification of communication lines, and identification of new markets for exports of domestic commodities,” the Armenian prime minister noted.

In his words, the economic picture with numerous friendly countries does not correspond to the level of political relations, which is probably a result of bilateral passivity and the lack of information and initiative.

“Purposeful, systematic and consistent activities of diplomats are essential in this issue,” the prime minister stressed.

He underlined the need to establish such commercial, economic and business cooperation whose results will become tangible in the near future. According to Abrahamyan, it is necessary to give renewed impetus to work of the interdepartmental working group set up to work out ways to expand and strengthen foreign economic ties.

He indicated the further promotion of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation as one of the government’s main goals.

“I also attach special importance to the protection of rights and interests of Armenian citizens and legal entities abroad, to which the consistent implementation of reforms on simplification of consular service procedures will contribute. The provision of quality advice and assistance by Foreign Ministry to our citizens who found themselves in a crisis situation also deserves special attention,” H. Abrahamyan said.

H. Abrahamyan assured those present that the government will do its best to ensure more efficient work of Armenian diplomatic missions and provision of necessary assistance.