Armenian Parliamentary Delegation Led by Speaker Alen Simonyan to Visit Andorra

Official Visit to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

An official delegation from Armenia, led by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, is set to undertake a working visit to Andorra la Vella, the capital of the Principality of Andorra, from September 25 to 27. This visit forms part of a broader itinerary that also includes engagements in Spain, specifically Madrid from September 22-25 and Barcelona from September 27-28.

Delegation Composition and Objectives

The Armenian delegation accompanying Speaker Simonyan includes prominent parliamentary figures: Sargis Khandanyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations; Tatevik Gasparyan, Head of the Armenia-Spain Friendship Group; and Emma Palyan, a Deputy from the Civil Contract faction.

The primary objectives of the visit are centered on enhancing the bilateral relations between Armenia and Andorra. Discussions are expected to focus on:

• Developing institutional cooperation between the parliaments of both countries.
• Establishing active communication channels, particularly between their respective foreign relations committees.
• Exploring avenues for bilateral cooperation in sectors such as tourism and other fields of mutual interest.

Context of Armenia-Andorra Relations

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Principality of Andorra were formally established on November 18, 2003. This upcoming visit follows a meeting in September 2024, when the Speaker of the Parliament of Andorra, Carles Enseñat Reig, visited Armenia at the invitation of Speaker Simonyan. During that meeting, Speaker Simonyan proposed initiating institutional parliamentary cooperation and discussed the development of bilateral ties in tourism and other areas. He also presented Armenia's 'Crossroads of Peace' project to his Andorran counterpart.

Previous high-level engagements have also underscored the commitment to strengthening ties. In November 2022, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Andorra, Ararat Mirzoyan and Maria Ubach Font respectively, discussed expanding cooperation in areas such as tourism, sustainable development, and renewable energy. They also emphasized collaboration within international organizations like La Francophonie, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe. Andorra, despite its small size, boasts a robust economy, making it an attractive partner for international trade and investment.