Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, in Muscat, within the framework of the official visit to Oman.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of matters on the development of cooperation between Armenia and Oman, Armenian News-NEWS.am is informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

The Foreign Minister of Oman highly appreciated the decision of the Foreign Minister of Armenia to visit Muscat despite the current complex regional situation, describing the visit as historic. Ararat Mirzoyan, for his part, expressed his gratitude for the organizing of this visit and, in particular, for the readiness and support shown in opening the resident Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Oman, emphasizing that the visit reflects Armenia’s strong interest in developing multifaceted relations with Oman and the countries of the region at large.

Both sides emphasized that Armenia’s decision to open a resident embassy in Oman constitutes an important milestone on the path toward further deepening bilateral relations.

With a view to enriching the bilateral agenda and fully realizing the existing potential between Armenia and Oman, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in a number of areas of mutual interest. In this context, they exchanged views on the expansion of the legal framework and the implementation of concrete initiatives in economy, trade, education, and culture. In terms of promoting people-to-people contacts, the importance of the decision of visa waiver, as well as the launch of regular direct flights between Armenia and Oman, was emphasized.

During the meeting, Minister Mirzoyan expressed appreciation for the effective cooperation in organizing eight direct Muscat-Yerevan flights conducted since February 28, through which around 550 citizens of the Republic of Armenia have returned home.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of prioritizing diplomacy in efforts toward its settlement, and expressing concern over strikes on civilian infrastructure and the resulting casualties.

Stressing the importance of peace, Minister Mirzoyan briefed his Omani counterpart on the steps aimed at further institutionalizing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In addition, Minister Mirzoyan made an entry in the book of honorary guests of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman: “It was my absolute honour and privilege to be the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia to visit  the Sultanate of Oman, country which is the true believer of diplomacy and advocate of peace.”