Q.: Your visit to Georgia, scheduled to take place on 3-4 February, was cancelled due to the sudden death of Prime Minister Zhvania. What was your reaction to this shocking news?

A.: We learned about Zourab Zhvania¹s death while en route, by car, to Tbilisi. This news came as a complete shock, especially since I was scheduled to meet with him that very evening.

The loss is immense. Our cooperation with Prime Minister Zhvania has had a long and memorable history. Zourab Zhvania was an accomplished and capable politician, remarkable for his in-depth knowledge of regional realities and his keen understanding of the potential for future developments. He was an enthusiastic supporter of strengthening of Armenian-Georgian relations, as well as regional cooperation in general. Throughout his career, he had proven himself as a serious, responsible and reliable colleague.

At this difficult moment, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late Prime Minister Zhvania and to the people and the government of Georgia.