Lithuania, Armenia to deepen economic ties – presidents

VILNIUS – The Lithuanian and Armenian president said in Vilnius on Wednesday they hope to strengthen bilateral economic ties.

Trade between the two countries has tripled in recent years, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan.

"Our countries have prospects for increased economic cooperation. I will point out that our bilateral trade has grown by as much as 300 percent in recent years," Nauseda said. "We want to continue this trend."

Khachaturyan is on an official visit to Lithuania on Wednesday, and the two president will attend a bilateral business forum later in the day.

The Armenian president said the two presidents discussed relations in the areas of health, information technology, renewable energy, environment, food industry, transport and humanitarian issues.

Lithuania will also continue to support Armenia's rapprochement with the European Union, Nauseda said.

Armenia is a member of the EU's Eastern Partnership program.

Moreover, Lithuania, as an EU member, is ready to help achieve lasting peace, which is essential for a prosperous democratic future for Armenia, the Lithuanian president said.

Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over territory for decades.

Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The simmering conflict has so far claimed around 30,000 lives.

Nauseda says Lithuania supports a sustainable and comprehensive diplomatic settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.