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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who is on an official visit to Argentina met with Vice President of the Argentine Republic and President of the Argentine National Senate Amado Boudou, the presidential press service reported. 

Taking into account that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina has postponed all the official events due to health problems, including the events to be held on the occasion of the country’s public holiday on June 9, the negotiations were conducted with an Argentine high-ranking delegation led by the Vice President of the Argentine Republic and the President of the Senate Amado Boudou. Particularly, the Chief of the Cabinet of Minister of Argentina Jorge Capitanich, the President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Julian Andres Dominguez, the Minster of Social Development Alicia Kirchner, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovative Production Lino Baranao, the Head of the State Revenue Department Ricardo Daniel Echegaray and other officials took part in the meeting.

Amado Boudou welcomed President Serzh Sargsyan and the delegation led by him and noted that he is glad the Armenian President’s visit is kicking off in Argentina which is not only the testimony to the Armenian-Argentine friendship but also to the mutual determination and commitment to bringing that friendship to a practical level into which President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina has put a lot of efforts. Amado Boudou emphasized the ceremony of signing bilateral documents as a result of the visit which will further strengthen the Armenian-Argentine ties in a number of spheres.

Argentine Vice President and the President of the Senate Amado Boudou praised the Armenian community of Argentina which is not only a big but also an influential community and plays a great role in reinforcing the Armenian-Argentine ties. He stressed that despite the geographical distance of the two countries and the fact that Armenia has a centuries-old history while Argentina is a relatively young country; the two peoples have established close friendship ties and the interstate relations continue to develop successfully.

President Serzh Sargsyan presented his appreciation for the invitation and the warm reception and expressed regret that President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is not able to take part in the negotiations due to health problems. Serzh Sargsyan wished the Argentine President a speedy recovery and good health.

Speaking about the Armenian-Argentine relations, the Armenian President noted that this is the third time Armenian President has paid an official visit to Argentina which testifies to the fact that Armenian Presidents have always attached great importance to promoting relations with Argentina and have considered it their duty to visit the friendly country. The president also took the occasion to express his gratitude for the sincere attitude toward the Armenian people and especially toward the Armenian community of Argentina.

“My official visit to Argentina is taking place on the eve of your country’s Independence Day on the occasion of which I would like to cordially congratulate the Argentine authorities and the Argentine people and wish them success. We attach great importance to our relations with Argentina, and I am happy that we periodically hold high-level meetings and our relations continue to develop in a multilateral format as well. We are committed to enhancing the Armenian-Argentine relations in political, cultural and other spheres. I am pleased that the documents to be concluded today will give us that opportunity,” said President Serzh Sargsyan.

The RA President also emphasized the role of the Armenian community of Argentina in the bilateral friendly relations, including in strengthening the trade and economic ties. According to President Serzh Sargsyan, it is no accident that Argentina is one of the largest investors in the Armenian economy. He added that those around 400 million dollar investments are gradually influencing the Armenian-Argentine relations.

At the meeting President Serzh Sargsyan also expressed his gratitude for the Law on the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide passed with the direct involvement of the previous President of Argentina Nestor Kirchner. The president stressed that next year is the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and events are to take place not only in Armenia but also in different countries of the world, including Argentina.

On behalf of our people and on his own behalf Serzh Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to the Argentine authorities and the Argentine people for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

At the end of the negotiations a number of documents aimed at promoting and enhancing the cooperation between the two countries were concluded. Particularly, the Agreement on Working Holiday Program between the RA government and the AR government, the Economic Cooperation Agreement between the RA government and the AR government, the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the AR Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovative Production and the Agreement on Exchange of Information on Tax Matters between the RA government and the AR government were concluded.

On July 6, within the framework of his official visit President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Hector Marcos Timerman. At the meeting a wide range of issues regarding the promotion of the Armenian-Argentine bilateral and multilateral relations was discussed. On the same day, President Serzh Sargsyan also held a meeting with the eminent Argentine Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian.

The Armenian President also visited San Martin Square and laid a wreath at the monument of the champion of the Argentine independence San Martin and paid tribute to his memory. Afterwards, Serzh Sargsyan visited the municipality of Buenos Aires and held a meeting with the Head of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires (mayor) Mauricio Macri. Moreover, within the framework of the official visit a meeting was held with President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Julian Andres Dominguez.