Armenian President highlights importance of deepening ties with Bulgaria during Yerevan meeting
Armenia’s President Vahagn Khachaturyan met Bulgaria’s Vice President Iliana Iotova at the presidential residence in Yerevan, underscoring that the consistent development of friendly relations and close cooperation with Bulgaria is of great importance for Armenia.
Iotova is in the country on a working visit to participate in the European Political Community summit taking place in the Armenian capital. Welcoming his counterpart, Khachaturyan thanked Iotova for attending the international gathering and pointed to a recently signed joint declaration on strategic partnership as evidence of both sides’ readiness to deepen multifaceted cooperation.
Iotova, in turn, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and noted the established traditions of cooperation between Bulgaria and Armenia that help strengthen and expand interactions across sectors. The talks focused on prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to developing trade and economic ties.
They highlighted the Armenian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an effective platform for intensifying business contacts and advancing new initiatives. The meeting also covered international cooperation.
Khachaturyan stated that Armenia will host COP17 — the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity — in October 2026, preceded by a leaders’ summit scheduled for October 16, 2026, in Yerevan. In this context, he expressed hope for high-level participation from the Bulgarian side.
Addressing regional processes, the sides emphasized that the peace established in the region creates new opportunities to stimulate interregional ties and advance communication programs.
The importance of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project was noted, alongside the broader significance of strengthening cooperation in the Black Sea region, viewed as a key platform for expanding Armenia’s transit and infrastructure capabilities.
Interparliamentary cooperation was cited as an important factor in bolstering bilateral relations and institutional development. Both sides confirmed their readiness to continue working together across areas of mutual interest, including the exchange of best practices in strengthening democratic institutions and combining efforts where necessary.