Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today met with visiting Vice President of Uruguay Danilo Astori in Yerevan.

Sargsyan noted that 2014 was an important year in terms of strengthening friendly relations between the two countries and said he was convinced that prospects for continuing on this track were excellent.

The Armenian president asked Astori to convey his personal greetings to former Uruguay President José Mujica Cordano for the warm reception accorded him during his visit to Uruguay and to convey his congratulations to the new president Tabaré Ramón Vázquez.

Sargsyan told Astori that his visit reaffirmed the respect that Uruguay has for Armenia and the Armenian people.

The Armenian president once again thanked the government and people of Uruguay for officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide as early as 1965, noting that this step by Uruguay paved the way for other nations to follow suit.

Astori, who also serves as the president of the Uruguayan Senate, told Sargsyan that a love of Armenia runs deep in his country’s government and all layers of society.

Sargsyan also thanked Uruguay for adopting a balanced approach regarding the Karabakh conflict.