During the meeting PM Pashinyan attached importance to Minister Lahbib’s visit and expressed confidence that the trip will boost the development and strengthening of Armenian-Belgian relations, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

Prime Minister Pashinyan commended the Belgian government’s decision on opening an embassy in Yerevan and said that it will contribute to the expansion of partnership not only in the political, but also business and cultural areas.

Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said that despite the intensive bilateral ties, there’s been no Belgian foreign ministerial visits in the last eight years, and her visit’s goal is to boost the Armenian-Belgian ties, including in the economy and investments. Belgian businesses have great interest for implementing investment programs and deepening business ties in Armenia, she said.

PM Pashinyan and Belgium’s Foreign Minister discussed the developments taking place in the region, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The Armenian Prime Minister underscored that Azerbaijan seeks to commit ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. PM Pashinyan attached importance to the urgent debates in the UN Security Council on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the targeted reaction of international partners to Azerbaijan’s actions. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for effective steps to change Azerbaijan’s conduct. At the same time, PM Pashinyan attached importance to the need for consistency in implementation of the agreements that have been reached thus far in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations process in Brussels.

Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib underscored Belgium’s support to the stance of the EU, according to which Azerbaijan must ensure free movement of persons and goods along Lachin Corridor and implement the decision adopted by the UN International Court of Justice.