Armenian president welcomes UK ambassador, eyes closer bilateral ties

President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, accepted the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia, Alexandra Pamela Cole, during an official ceremony held in the presidential residence.

In his remarks, President Khachaturyan underscored the evolving nature of UK-Armenia relations, highlighting a notable shift toward closer cooperation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“In recent years, our collaboration has gained considerable momentum, culminating in a relationship that now stands at the threshold of a strategic partnership,” the President stated. He expressed optimism that the two countries would soon formalize this dynamic through the signing of a dedicated strategic partnership agreement.

Ambassador Cole conveyed her appreciation for the warm reception.

“I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to present my credentials. This is an excellent time to be serving as the UK’s Ambassador to Armenia. I believe our bilateral relations have markedly improved in recent years. The anticipated agreement to elevate our ties to a strategic partnership presents a wealth of opportunities for joint action across a broad spectrum of shared interests—grounded in democratic values, the rule of law, human rights, and particularly in upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she noted.

The diplomatic meeting also served as a platform for discussing a range of priority areas for future cooperation. High on the agenda were peacebuilding initiatives, technological innovation, and cybersecurity. Both parties also explored the potential for establishing direct air connectivity between London and Yerevan, which would further enhance people-to-people and economic ties. Additionally, the importance of strengthening interparliamentary dialogue was emphasized as a key component of bilateral engagement.

By Vafa Guliyeva