New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan for securing win in the country’s parliamentary elections and expressed readiness to working closely with him to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
“Congratulations to Mr. Nikol Pashinyan on the impressive victory of the Civil Contract Party in the parliamentary elections. The renewed mandate reflects the enduring trust and confidence of the people of Armenia in your leadership and vision. I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen the warm and historic ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Armenia,” PM Modi posted on X.
PM Modi’s statement came after Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party secured victory in parliamentary elections held in Armenia on Sunday. According to preliminary Central Electoral Commission (CEC) data, ruling Civil Contract party received 49.825 per cent votes, Strong Armenia bloc got 23.281 per cent votes, “Armenia” bloc received 9.934 per cent votes, while Prosperous Armenia Party got 3.996 per cent votes, Armenia-based ‘News Am’ reported.
Last month, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan was on an official visit to India. During his visit, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan held a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi, with talks focused on the current geostrategic situation, strengthening defence cooperation, expanding military engagement and advancing collaboration between two nations in areas of mutual interest.
“Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, called on General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS. The interaction focused on the current geostrategic situation, strengthening India-Armenia Defence Cooperation, expanding military engagement and advancing collaboration in areas of mutual interest,” Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) stated on X.
Lieutenant General Asryan had also called on Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and discussed issued related to defence cooperation.
“During his official visit to India, First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan met with the Defence Secretary of India Rajesh Kumar Singh,” Armenia’s Ministry of Defence posted on X.
“Issues related to Armenia-India cooperation in the defence sector were discussed,” it added.
Lieutenant General Asryan also held a meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal, A P Singh, with discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, interoperability and strengthening bilateral air power ties.
He also called on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and discussed ways to have joint ventures in the development of military hardware.
Earlier this year, Armenia facilitated the evacuation of Indian nationals in Iran as tensions erupted in West Asia in February.
On April 11, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said that 312 Indian fishermen were safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. He further thanked the government of Armenia for making it possible.
In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar wrote, “Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend Ararat Mirzoyan for making it possible.”
On April 5, a total of 345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran had arrived safely in Chennai after being evacuated through Armenia.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the fishermen were brought back as part of India’s continued efforts to ensure the safety of its nationals in the conflict-affected region.
EAM Jaishankar had expressed gratitude to the Armenian government for facilitating the evacuation and thanked his counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for enabling the safe transit of Indian nationals from Iran to India amid the conflict.
–IANS
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