India will help Armenia launch and build its satellites apart from training its scientists as the two sides signed an agreement on peaceful use of the outer space on Tuesday during the visit of Indian Vice President Hamid M Ansari to Armenia.
Terrorism formed an important part of the discussion and the two sides agreed the need for countries to join hands in combating the menace.
Agreements on cooperation on youth matters and culture was also signed following Ansari’s meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapateyan and the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
They decided to enhance cooperatison in new areas and in this regard both sides will look at having direct flights between India and Armenia and liberalising visa regimes to improve connectivity, tourism and people to people contact.
It was expressed that there cannot be a double standard on this. The Armenian leadership agreed with India that there cannot be good or bad terrorists and the international community must speak in one voice on the issue of terrorism.
During the discussion on terrorism, Ansari shared the fact with the Armenian President Sarzh Sargsyan and PM Karapateyan that it was he who had initiated the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) draft at the United Nations when he was posted there as a diplomat long time back. Things have not moved much since then and India sought Armenia’s support on this. Due to their warm relations, Armenia has backed India on 10 positions in the United Nations. India is also backing Armenia for the non-permanent seat in the UN in 2030-32.
Karapateyan, who first held one to one talks with Ansari followed by delegation level talks, expressed confidence that the VP’s visit will give a fresh impetus to the bilateral economic cooperation and development. He mentioned exchange of technologies an agriculture as two target fields to boost economic cooperation. Responding to him Ansari said India is ready to share its capacities in the areas of mechanical engineering, information technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals etc.
“The Vice President’s visit to Armenia on the occasion of 25h anniversary of diplomatic relationship has brought a new vigour to the relationship,” said Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs while briefing the media after the talks.
With Bollywood films highly popular in Armenia since the USSR days, the Armenian leaders expressed desire for at least one film to be shot in the beautiful locations of Armenia. In this connection a team from Bollywood is expected to visit Armenia soon to explore the possibility. In fact during their lunch Armenian President Sargsyan shared an anecdote to express closeness between Indian and Armenian people especially their great liking and admiration of Indian culture. He told that his eldest granddaughter specially choreographed a dance on Bollywood song for her birthday celebrations.
On the aspect of trade and commerce it was agreed to intensify cooperation through joint ventures and investments, and Armenia invited Indian companies to participate in the areas of machine making, agriculture, seed production, jewellery, stone cutting and watch making.
Earlier, breaking away from protocol the Armenian President spent a lot of time with Ansari and hosted him over a lunch. Ansari delivered Sargsyan an invitation from President Pranab Mukherjee to visit India. The Armenian Foreign Minister invited Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for a visit and talks. Besides a joint working group on agriculture will meet soon. In the morning, Ansari laid wreath at the Memorial of the victims of Armenian Genocide in Yerevan and planted a tree.