AKIPRESS.COM - Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan, on March 4, said that Armenia - India relationships are developing fast and both nations could achieve more in terms of trade, economy, investment, culture and tourism, The Print reported.

While talking to media in New Delhi, Safaryan said, “Since last year, we’ve been trying to take our relations to the next level. For the past 30 years relations between Armenia and India are developing very fast. We could achieve more in terms of trade, economy, investment, culture & tourism.”

Safaryan, who attended the 8th Raisina Dialogue hosted by India in New Delhi, is one of the keynote speakers at the Panel Discussion on “Peace In Pieces: New Pathways For a UN That Works.”

The speakers in the panel discussed the challenges that the international security system and the rules-based world order are facing as well as issues on the UN reform agenda.

They exchanged views on the involvement and role of international organisations and individual states, including small and developing countries, in the multilateral system. The importance of efficient application of international and regional mechanisms in the settlement of ongoing conflicts in different corners of the world was highlighted.

In his remarks, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan noted that since its independence and joining the United Nations, Armenia has been constantly advocating for an effective implementation of multilateral platforms.

In 2020 and during the subsequent period, after Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia felt the negative impact and consequences of the international system's shortcomings in properly responding to the conflict. Safaryan added that despite the difficulties, Armenia, with the involvement of international partners, is negotiating with Azerbaijan in good faith aimed at the normalisation of relations.

The deputy Foreign Minister noted that multilateralism and mechanisms of the UN system continue to be an important tool for overcoming the existing challenges. The priority of investing the necessary efforts by all actors in the effective implementation of the above-mentioned mechanisms was also emphasised.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has made headlines in May 2022. The region has been a recurrent bone of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia and India celebrated 30 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2022 and both countries maintain active political ties. Effective cooperation exists between the two nations within international bodies.

After Armenia’s independence in 1991, Diplomatic relations were established between the Republic of Armenia and India in 1992. India and Armenia signed a Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation in 1995. But the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries cannot be deemed adequate.

Armenia can play an important role in the Indian-backed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Iranian-backed Black Sea-Persian Gulf Transport Corridor.