We want to expand cooperation in talent-based areas, Armenian formin in Vilnius

VILNIUS – Armenia would like to expand cooperation with Lithuania in the areas of high and IT technology and science, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in Vilnius on Monday.

"We would like to develop cooperation especially in the areas where we rely on human talent," the minister told a press conference at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius. "We have very interesting developments in the IT sector, the education area, and Lithuania also has very interesting experience in the areas of biotechnology and financial technology."

In his words, both Lithuania and Armenia, "not blessed with what is beneath the earth", can make use of their people, and that's where cooperation opportunities arise.

"We really set directions we can pick from, and also priorities for bilateral cooperation. And these include information technology, life sciences, financial technology," Linkevicius told the press conference.

Linkevicius also said the two countries could cooperate in the area of renewable energy.

The Lithuanian foreign minister also said Lithuania could accept more students from Armenia, with 30 of them now studying in the country's higher schools. "Their number could really be higher," he said.

Mnatsakanyan was first appointed foreign minister in May, 2018 and stayed after a new government was formed in January. It will be this minister's first visit to Lithuania.

The last time Armenia's foreign minister pay a visit to Lithuania was in 2013.

Armenia has close trade, political and military ties with Russia, therefore, its ties with the European Union are limited and the country is not seeking as close integration as Georgia, Ukraine or Moldova is.