ARMENIA AND GEORGIA INTERESTED IN RELAUNCHING ABKHAZIAN SECTOR OF GEORGIAN RAILWAY IN SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME
TBILISI, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Government
Information and PR Department, the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who is on a working visit to Tbilisi with the aim of
participating in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of CIS
Countries Governments on June 2-3, had a meeting with his Georgian
counterpart Zurab Nogaideli on June 1. Prime Ministers of the two
countries expressed their satisfaction at the activization of bilateral
contacts and mutual visits, which, according to them, promotes the
trade and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia. Noting
the efficient work done by the Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental
Commission on Economic Cooperation, they discussed the implementation
of the decisions made at the third meeting of the Commission held
on July 26, 2004. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the
Commission in September. A. Margarian expressed his gratification
at the establishment of an active dialog on the issue of regulating
Georgia's state debt to Armenia, as a result of which an agreement
has been reached to reformulate the debt. He said that Armenia gave
Georgia an comprehensive answer as to the issue of the Turkmenian gas
transition in 1993-1995, so neither the Georgian nor the Turkmenian
side have any unsettled financial problem. During the meeting,
agreements on cooperation in new directions in the sphere of energy
were reached. The Prime Ministers discussed in detail the problem
of constructing a new high-voltage electric line between Armenia and
Georgia. Z. Nogaideli reasserted Georgia's interest in the country's
participation in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, in response to which
A. Margarian noted that the first stage of the project is underway,
but the Armenian side does not rule out conducting discussions on this
proposal with Georgia in the future. The Prime Ministers discussed the
demarcation of the border lines of the Armenian-Georgian state frontier
and decided to to hold a joint meeting of the bilateral commissions
dealing with this issue in November. As regards transport problems,
both sides stated their interest in relaunching the Abkhazian sector
of Georgian railway as soon as possible, from which, according to
Prime Ministers, the economies of the two countries will benefit. The
problems of the Armenian community of Georgia, especially of the
Armenians of Javakhk, were addressed at the meeting. Z. Nogaideli
reasserted the intention of the Georgian authorities to implement
a program on the improvement of the social and economic situation
in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The sides agreed to have a working
meeting in Javakhk in July or August. Expressing his appreciation
of Armenia's willingness to cooperate in implementing the program
aimed at solving the problems of Javakhk, Z. Nogaideli noted that
the issues of cooperation in the construction and repairs of roads,
schools, etc. can be discussed at the meeting in Javakhk. A. Margarian
expressed confidence that the Georgian authorities will make every
effort to solve problems related to protection of the Armenian
cultural and historic monuments in the territory of their country. A
decision was made to set up an Armenian working group to deal with
this problem, which will examine the legislative field of Georgia
and submit proposals for the solution of the problem.
TBILISI, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Government
Information and PR Department, the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who is on a working visit to Tbilisi with the aim of
participating in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of CIS
Countries Governments on June 2-3, had a meeting with his Georgian
counterpart Zurab Nogaideli on June 1. Prime Ministers of the two
countries expressed their satisfaction at the activization of bilateral
contacts and mutual visits, which, according to them, promotes the
trade and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia. Noting
the efficient work done by the Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental
Commission on Economic Cooperation, they discussed the implementation
of the decisions made at the third meeting of the Commission held
on July 26, 2004. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the
Commission in September. A. Margarian expressed his gratification
at the establishment of an active dialog on the issue of regulating
Georgia's state debt to Armenia, as a result of which an agreement
has been reached to reformulate the debt. He said that Armenia gave
Georgia an comprehensive answer as to the issue of the Turkmenian gas
transition in 1993-1995, so neither the Georgian nor the Turkmenian
side have any unsettled financial problem. During the meeting,
agreements on cooperation in new directions in the sphere of energy
were reached. The Prime Ministers discussed in detail the problem
of constructing a new high-voltage electric line between Armenia and
Georgia. Z. Nogaideli reasserted Georgia's interest in the country's
participation in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, in response to which
A. Margarian noted that the first stage of the project is underway,
but the Armenian side does not rule out conducting discussions on this
proposal with Georgia in the future. The Prime Ministers discussed the
demarcation of the border lines of the Armenian-Georgian state frontier
and decided to to hold a joint meeting of the bilateral commissions
dealing with this issue in November. As regards transport problems,
both sides stated their interest in relaunching the Abkhazian sector
of Georgian railway as soon as possible, from which, according to
Prime Ministers, the economies of the two countries will benefit. The
problems of the Armenian community of Georgia, especially of the
Armenians of Javakhk, were addressed at the meeting. Z. Nogaideli
reasserted the intention of the Georgian authorities to implement
a program on the improvement of the social and economic situation
in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The sides agreed to have a working
meeting in Javakhk in July or August. Expressing his appreciation
of Armenia's willingness to cooperate in implementing the program
aimed at solving the problems of Javakhk, Z. Nogaideli noted that
the issues of cooperation in the construction and repairs of roads,
schools, etc. can be discussed at the meeting in Javakhk. A. Margarian
expressed confidence that the Georgian authorities will make every
effort to solve problems related to protection of the Armenian
cultural and historic monuments in the territory of their country. A
decision was made to set up an Armenian working group to deal with
this problem, which will examine the legislative field of Georgia
and submit proposals for the solution of the problem.