Tweet
UNWTO CHIEF SAYS TOURISM CAN MEND ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN TIES
Xinhua
July 5, 2011
China
TBILISI July 5
The chief of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Tuesday
encouraged Armenians and Azerbaijanis to visit each other's country
to help heal the rift between the two countries.
UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai told a press conference in the
Armenian capital, Yerevan, after meeting the Armenian president and
prime minister and other senior officials: "I hope tourists in Armenia
and Azerbaijan will pay mutual visits in future."
"I am realistic and I realize the seriousness of the situation but
I believe that there are human forces that will take the development
in the right way," he said.
"A day will come when the peoples of the region will see the advantage
of living together," he said.
The two countries have no formal diplomatic relations due to an ongoing
dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. They fought a war over the
region from 1988-1994.
The UNWTO chief was in Armenia to inspect the country's tourism
sector. It was his first visit to Armenia. He will later visit Georgia.
"The tourism industry may be used as a tool for solution of serious
problems," Rifai said.
The UNWTO chief is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding
with Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan to further develop
Armenia's tourism industry and tourism in the South Caucasus generally.
"The main purpose of the memorandum is to build a framework for
cooperation in the South Caucasus," said an economy ministry statement.
"The initiative provides an opportunity for the parties to promote the
best international practices in tourist centers and clusters," it said.
Founded in 1997, the UNWTO now has 154 member states.
Xinhua
July 5, 2011
China
TBILISI July 5
The chief of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Tuesday
encouraged Armenians and Azerbaijanis to visit each other's country
to help heal the rift between the two countries.
UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai told a press conference in the
Armenian capital, Yerevan, after meeting the Armenian president and
prime minister and other senior officials: "I hope tourists in Armenia
and Azerbaijan will pay mutual visits in future."
"I am realistic and I realize the seriousness of the situation but
I believe that there are human forces that will take the development
in the right way," he said.
"A day will come when the peoples of the region will see the advantage
of living together," he said.
The two countries have no formal diplomatic relations due to an ongoing
dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. They fought a war over the
region from 1988-1994.
The UNWTO chief was in Armenia to inspect the country's tourism
sector. It was his first visit to Armenia. He will later visit Georgia.
"The tourism industry may be used as a tool for solution of serious
problems," Rifai said.
The UNWTO chief is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding
with Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Davtyan to further develop
Armenia's tourism industry and tourism in the South Caucasus generally.
"The main purpose of the memorandum is to build a framework for
cooperation in the South Caucasus," said an economy ministry statement.
"The initiative provides an opportunity for the parties to promote the
best international practices in tourist centers and clusters," it said.
Founded in 1997, the UNWTO now has 154 member states.