Diversification of Armenia's export routes and expansion of access to new markets for Armenian products are strategic priorities for the RA government.
«Armenpress» reports that this was stated by Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Armenia to Greece, in an interview with the Greek news portal pameevro.gr, commenting on Armenian-Greek bilateral relations, regional and international developments, as well as prospects for cooperation in political, economic, educational, cultural, and infrastructure sectors.
The ambassador also presented Armenia's approaches to key issues on the agenda of regional connectivity, European integration, and security.
“During a meeting with the CEO of the port of Alexandroupolis, Mr. Konstantinos Hadzikonstantinou, we discussed the potential role of Alexandroupolis as a center for the transit and distribution of Armenian products, including agricultural goods, wines, mineral waters, and other export items.
The port of Alexandroupolis has obvious logistical advantages: it combines maritime, automotive, rail, and air communications and has a favorable position to serve not only the Greek market but also the broader markets of the Balkans and Europe,” the ambassador noted.
According to him, the next step will be to unite relevant Armenian exporters, Greek distributors, logistics operators, and port structures on a single platform to assess commercial viability and practical transportation routes. “Our goal is to turn the mutual understanding formed at the political level into practical business-level cooperation,” Tigran Mkrtchyan emphasized.
The ambassador also commented on the project to establish a TUMO Creative Technology Center in Alexandroupolis, stating that TUMO is one of Armenia's most successful educational and technological projects, which could become an extremely useful platform for the youth of Alexandroupolis and, more broadly, for the entire Thrace region.
“Discussions are currently in the preliminary study phase. However, local authorities have shown clear interest, and the Embassy of Armenia is ready to facilitate communication and cooperation between the municipality of Alexandroupolis, TUMO, and relevant Armenian and Greek entities,” he noted.
The ambassador also discussed with the governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Christodoulos Topsidis, the possibility of establishing practical cooperation between the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region and one of the regions of Armenia, particularly the Shirak region.
“The logic behind this initiative is simple: both regions are border regions, have significant transport potential, and view economic development in the context of expanding connectivity. Moreover, both regions border two other countries, one of which, Turkey, is a common neighbor. This fact further elevates the importance of Alexandroupolis for us, as after the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and normalization of relations, the Evros region could become Armenia's gateway to European markets,” Tigran Mkrtchyan noted.
Speaking about the TRIPP project, he mentioned that it is an important component of the broader initiative presented by the Government of the Republic of Armenia called “Crossroads of Peace,” aimed at promoting regional connectivity based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, legal subjectivity, and reciprocity.
“We believe that all regional transport initiatives should be viewed not as competing projects but as potentially complementary components of a broader connectivity architecture.
If regional communications in the South Caucasus are fully opened, and infrastructure projects are developed, Evros could play a more significant role as the western gateway for trade flows between the Caspian region, South Caucasus, Black Sea, and Aegean Sea,” he said.
Addressing the Armenian community in Alexandroupolis, the ambassador emphasized that the Armenian presence in the Evros region is an important part of the shared historical memory of both countries.
“During my meetings with local authorities, we discussed the importance of more systematic preservation and promotion of this rich heritage. Digitization of historical archives, creation of cultural heritage routes, organization of thematic exhibitions, or appropriate marking of monuments and sites related to Armenian history can be extremely valuable initiatives. They will not only contribute to the preservation of our common historical heritage but also promote cultural tourism from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora to the Evros region,” Tigran Mkrtchyan noted.
“The mandate received by the RA government reaffirms that the people of Armenia support reforms, democracy, and the development of the country in a European direction,” the ambassador noted, commenting on Armenia's political course after the elections.
“Armenia does not build its partnerships against any country. When Armenia faces pressure, restrictions, or threats, we consistently work to strengthen our resilience, diversify partnerships in security and economic sectors, deepen cooperation with like-minded countries, and protect our sovereignty through diplomacy, reforms, and continuous development of state institutions' capacities. In this context, Greece is one of Armenia's key partners. We highly value Greece's support within the framework of the European Union, its deep understanding of regional developments, and its consistent commitment to the principles of international law, state sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” he added.
