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Armenia, Georgia to make cooperation plans for 3-5 years
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 12, 2005
YEREVAN, March 12 -- Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who
ended his two-day visit to Armenia on Saturday, said the two countries
could and should consider joint plans for the next three to five years.
He said his talks with the Armenian leadership were "constructive
and interesting".
The prime minister said intensive bilateral consultations on various
issues of economic cooperation would begin next week.
"For the first time representatives of the Armenian Energy Ministry
had no claims to present to the Georgian side," Nogaideli said.
During the talks, the sides discussed energy cooperation, and ways
to pay Georgia's debt to Armenia for electricity.
"The existing tariffs for railway transportation through Georgia
are already normal for trade between Armenia and Georgia," the prime
minister said.
"We will soon be able to discuss the question of increasing
transportation volumes through Georgia and further reducing railway
and other transport tariffs through the republic," he added.
The Armenian and Georgian delegations also discussed a gas pipeline
from Iran to Armenia.
"We want the gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia that is under
construction to be used in the future for gas imports to Georgia,"
Nogaideli said.
"This project will benefit Armenia, and if today Georgia is a transit
country for Armenia, Armenia will then become a transit country for
Georgia," he said.
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said, "The Georgian
side raised the question of Armenia becoming a transit route for
the transportation of gas from Iran to Georgia and Ukraine through
Armenia."
Currently Armenia receives natural gas from Russia through Georgia and
regards the gas pipeline from Iran as an alternative way to strengthen
its energy security.
The head of the Russian-Armenian joint venture ArmRosgazprom, Karen
Karapetyan, said earlier that the gas pipeline from Iran would be
used exclusively for the internal needs of Armenia and not for transit.
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 12, 2005
YEREVAN, March 12 -- Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who
ended his two-day visit to Armenia on Saturday, said the two countries
could and should consider joint plans for the next three to five years.
He said his talks with the Armenian leadership were "constructive
and interesting".
The prime minister said intensive bilateral consultations on various
issues of economic cooperation would begin next week.
"For the first time representatives of the Armenian Energy Ministry
had no claims to present to the Georgian side," Nogaideli said.
During the talks, the sides discussed energy cooperation, and ways
to pay Georgia's debt to Armenia for electricity.
"The existing tariffs for railway transportation through Georgia
are already normal for trade between Armenia and Georgia," the prime
minister said.
"We will soon be able to discuss the question of increasing
transportation volumes through Georgia and further reducing railway
and other transport tariffs through the republic," he added.
The Armenian and Georgian delegations also discussed a gas pipeline
from Iran to Armenia.
"We want the gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia that is under
construction to be used in the future for gas imports to Georgia,"
Nogaideli said.
"This project will benefit Armenia, and if today Georgia is a transit
country for Armenia, Armenia will then become a transit country for
Georgia," he said.
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said, "The Georgian
side raised the question of Armenia becoming a transit route for
the transportation of gas from Iran to Georgia and Ukraine through
Armenia."
Currently Armenia receives natural gas from Russia through Georgia and
regards the gas pipeline from Iran as an alternative way to strengthen
its energy security.
The head of the Russian-Armenian joint venture ArmRosgazprom, Karen
Karapetyan, said earlier that the gas pipeline from Iran would be
used exclusively for the internal needs of Armenia and not for transit.