Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has praised relations between Armenia and Georgia, saying bilateral ties are already so strong that it is difficult to imagine them becoming significantly deeper, while emphasizing that cooperation between the two neighbors will continue to expand.
Speaking to journalists after casting his ballot in Armenia’s ongoing parliamentary elections, Pashinyan said relations between Yerevan and Tbilisi are at an exceptionally high level.
“You know that we have such good relations with Georgia that it is difficult even to talk about deepening them further,” Pashinyan said.
The Armenian prime minister noted that strong emotional and historical ties exist between the two countries, but stressed that there is also a substantial economic and political agenda underpinning the relationship.
“Of course, this is also about emotions. There are deep and meaningful emotions between Armenia and Georgia, but there is also a broad economic and political agenda. We will cooperate with Georgia more and more closely — as closely as possible,” he added.
Armenians are voting in parliamentary elections on Sunday, with voters choosing members of the country’s National Assembly through a proportional representation system. Eighteen political forces — including 16 parties and two electoral blocs — are competing for seats in the legislature.
Political parties must secure at least 4% of the vote to enter parliament, while electoral blocs face an 8% threshold.
Based on international media reports, Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party is expected to face its strongest challenge from three major opposition groups: the Strong Armenia Alliance, backed by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan; the Armenia Alliance, led by former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan; and the Prosperous Armenia Party, headed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan.
