Prospects of liberalizing the visa regime between Armenia and Qatar were discussed among other issues during Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian’s visit to the Gulf region country on Monday, according to his press office.
Meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani, Sarkisian also reportedly discussed opportunities of deepening Armenia’s cooperation with Qatari airlines, which both parties said would enhance “mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Emphasizing Armenia’s “special relations” with Arab countries “based on centuries-long friendship”, the Armenian leader said that Yerevan is interested in “the invigoration of the high-level political dialogue with the State of Qatar and deepening of cooperation in all areas.”
From the viewpoint of boosting mutually beneficial trade and economic relations, the president of Armenia and the emir of Qatar stressed the importance of expanding the legal field of the two countries as well as holding sessions of the intergovernmental commission.
The Armenian side proposed for consideration a number of investment projects in different areas, among them the use of Armenia’s transit opportunities, especially access via Armenia to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led grouping including five-post Soviet states.
As part of his official visit Sarkisian the same day also met with the CEO of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker.
The parties reportedly discussed Armenian-Qatari cooperation in the area of aviation and prospects for developing it. President Sarkisian spoke about “the significant role of flights carried out by Qatar Airways in the expansion of the agenda of interstate bilateral cooperation.”
Qatar Airways entered the Armenian aviation market last May and is carrying out regular Doha-Yerevan-Doha flights.
According to the Armenian president, the increase in the number of tourists from the Gulf countries, including from Qatar, is also conditioned by the existence of direct flights.
Noting that Armenia has adopted the Open Sky policy in 2013, President Sarkisian underscored that “Armenia’s policy in the area of civil aviation and air communications provides new opportunities to the Armenian and foreign companies and ensures equal and free competition field for all.”
Sarkisian noted that Armenia will encourage and support Qatari investors to make investments in different areas of the Armenian economy, including aviation.
Akbar Al Baker, for his part, noted that his company sees prospects for the development of cooperation and is seeking to promote this mutually beneficial cooperation.
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