Wrapping up his official visit to Georgia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The head of the Armenian government called at the towns of Poka, Gandza, Satkha, Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki. Nikol Pashinyan met with representatives of the local Armenian community, visited the Church of the Holy Cross in Akhalkalaki and lit candles.

During the meetings held on the spot, the Prime Minister touched upon the outcome of his talks, the prospects of Armenian-Georgian relations, as well as on the inner political situation in Armenia. Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze attended the Premier’s meeting with the local Armenian community in Akhalkalaki.

“I am glad for the atmosphere settled here. I was greatly surprised to hear the applause that sounded in the hall during the Vice Prime Minister’s remarks, and the applause was really sincere.

This is my first official visit in the capacity of Prime Minister, and you may know that I became Prime Minister as a result of a political process powered by the people’s will and called a revolution of love and solidarity. My official visit brings to the State and people of Georgia a message of love and solidarity, and I am extremely happy to see that the message has reached the target, and I consider that the atmosphere in this hall is the most important expression of that message.

During my meetings with the Prime Minister and the President of Georgia, we shortly put the official protocol papers aside and proceeded to outspoken and sincere talks, because I think that documents, contracts are not more important than the opportunity to face each other and understand what is actually reflected in your interlocutor’s eyes.

Yes, I have come with a message of love and solidarity. I have come to look straight in the eyes of Georgia’s top government leaders in order to guess their meaning. And I realized that we are firmly determined to upgrade our centuries-old fraternal relationship to a completely new level, open up a new chapter in our relations and boost our friendship and brotherhood with new energy.

I fully concur with Mr. Vice Prime Minister’s statement that Georgia’s power is Armenia’s power, and vice versa. As seen from that perspective, our task becomes clear, namely to support each other, empower our States and peoples, strengthen our faith and our confidence in the common future.

Based on the results of my visit, I can state that Georgia’s incumbent authorities are friendly to Armenia; they are a friendly government for the Armenian people. And I have no doubt that the Georgian government will do its utmost to promote Armenia’s empowerment, prosperity and happiness, just as we will do our utmost for the strengthening of the Georgian State and the happiness of the Georgian people.

I want to make an observation: you may know that today our most important priority is to stop the tide of emigration from Armenia and, on the contrary, usher in the era of immigration, that is, all those who have left the country should return to their homeland. We now are pursuing such a policy in the Republic of Armenia,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated during the meeting with the Armenian community.

In his welcoming speech, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Mikheil Janelidze wished Nikol Pashinyan every success in his endeavors, noting that the Georgian government will soon announce a tender for the Ninotsminda-Armenia highway reconstruction project.

Deputy Prime Minister Janelidze emphasized that new infrastructure projects will be launched in Samtskhe-Javakheti region to provide new jobs and develop the region.

“Despite our achievements, yesterday’s discussions revealed that we have a lot to do for the progress of our countries, for the deepening of bilateral relations, and we will do our best to build on the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two neighboring nations.

We are building the future Georgia, while our neighboring Armenia is building a modern Armenia under the leadership of Mr. Pashinyan. Together and side by side, we will build highly developed Georgia and Armenia that will be prepared to defy future challenges to the benefit and for the welfare of our two countries,” Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze said.