Armenian President meets Bulgarian counterpart

President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan held a meeting with Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova, who arrived in Yerevan on Sunday to participate in the upcoming European Political Community Summit.

According to a readout from the President’s Office, Khachaturyan thanked President Iotova for visiting Armenia and participating in this highly important summit.

President Khachaturyan emphasized that the continuous development of friendly relations and close cooperation with Bulgaria is of great importance for Armenia, also taking into account the joint declaration on strategic partnership, which reflects mutual readiness to further deepen multifaceted cooperation.

President Iotova thanked him for the warm welcome and hospitality, stressing that there are established traditions of cooperation between Bulgaria and Armenia, which contribute to strengthening and expanding multifaceted interaction between the two countries.

During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to developing trade and economic ties.

The importance of the Armenia–Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry was highlighted as an effective platform for strengthening business links and implementing new initiatives.

The presidents also discussed issues related to the international cooperation agenda. Khachaturyan highlighted that Armenia will host COP17—the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity—in October 2026, which will be preceded by a Leaders’ Summit scheduled for October 16, 2026, in Yerevan. In this context, President Khachaturyan expressed hope that the Bulgarian side will participate at a high level in the summit.

The sides also referred to regional developments, emphasizing that the established peace in the region creates new opportunities for promoting interregional connectivity and advancing communication projects. In this context, the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project was highlighted.

Special importance was also attached to the further development of cooperation in the Black Sea region, seen as an important platform for expanding Armenia’s transit and infrastructure capabilities.

The meeting emphasized the role of interparliamentary cooperation as an important factor in strengthening bilateral relations and institutional development.

The sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, contributing to the further strengthening and development of Armenia–Bulgaria relations. Special attention was paid to the importance of exchanging best practices in the development and strengthening of democratic institutions and, where necessary, pooling joint efforts.