BREST OBLAST AS POSSIBLE VENUE FOR FIRST BELARUSIAN-ARMENIAN BUSINESS FORUM
Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
July 15 2013
BREST, 12 July (BelTA) - Brest Oblast may become the place to welcome
the first Belarusian-Armenian business forum. The relevant proposal
was voiced at the meeting of Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive
Committee Konstantin Sumar and the Armenia parliament delegation in
Brest on 12 July. The delegation was led by Deputy Chairman of the
National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov, BelTA has learned.
Although in 2012 the growth rate of trade between Brest Oblast and
Armenia was 166.4% ($1.3 million) in comparison with the previous year,
according to Konstantin Sumar, the figures are below the potential
of trade and economic ties. "It is necessary to more actively advance
economic ties. A meeting of our business elites could be an effective
mechanism to advance them," noted the Brest Oblast Governor. "Two
years ago Brest Oblast signed an agreement on trade, economic, and
cultural cooperation with Ararat Oblast. It was a certain boost in
the development of relations. We have already started shipping our
dairy products to this region of Armenia. At present the possibility
of shipping other foods, food industry products, and agricultural
machines is being discussed. I hope that every year our cooperation
will advance and our ties will grow stronger".
In turn, the Vice Speaker of the Armenian parliament said that the
level of trade and economic contacts between the two countries is for
now below the level of friendly, brotherly relations between the two
nations. "Armenia and Belarus are allies in all areas. We have all
the prerequisites for taking our trade and economic ties to a brand
new level. Our delegation includes representatives of the Armenian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who are going to meet with Belarusian
colleagues today. I think the idea of a Belarusian-Armenian business
forum will appeal to many representatives of business circles,"
noted Eduard Sharmazanov.
On 12 July the delegation of Armenian MPs visited the memorial complex
Brest Hero Fortress, where flowers were laid at the Eternal Flame
and slabs of the necropolis, under which remnants of the fortress'
defenders lay. So far the names of eight Armenians, who fought in the
fortress during the first days of war, are known. A total of about
100 Armenia natives were stationed in the fortress on the eve of the
Great Patriotic War, including political commissar Samvel Matevosyan,
one of the heroes of the defense battle.
The head of the Armenian delegation said that an idea to immortalize
the memory about the Armenians with a special gravestone was born
during the trip. He invited the Brest authorities to decide where the
gravestone will be placed to symbolize the memory about the heroic
defenders and the brotherly relations between Belarus and Armenia.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National
Assembly of Belarus Viktor Guminsky and Deputy Chairman of the National
Security Commission of the House of Representatives of the National
Assembly Vladimir Bazanov accompanied the delegation of Armenian
parliamentarians during their trip to Brest Oblast.
http://news.belta.by/en/news/society?id=720942
From: A. Papazian
Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarus
July 15 2013
BREST, 12 July (BelTA) - Brest Oblast may become the place to welcome
the first Belarusian-Armenian business forum. The relevant proposal
was voiced at the meeting of Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive
Committee Konstantin Sumar and the Armenia parliament delegation in
Brest on 12 July. The delegation was led by Deputy Chairman of the
National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov, BelTA has learned.
Although in 2012 the growth rate of trade between Brest Oblast and
Armenia was 166.4% ($1.3 million) in comparison with the previous year,
according to Konstantin Sumar, the figures are below the potential
of trade and economic ties. "It is necessary to more actively advance
economic ties. A meeting of our business elites could be an effective
mechanism to advance them," noted the Brest Oblast Governor. "Two
years ago Brest Oblast signed an agreement on trade, economic, and
cultural cooperation with Ararat Oblast. It was a certain boost in
the development of relations. We have already started shipping our
dairy products to this region of Armenia. At present the possibility
of shipping other foods, food industry products, and agricultural
machines is being discussed. I hope that every year our cooperation
will advance and our ties will grow stronger".
In turn, the Vice Speaker of the Armenian parliament said that the
level of trade and economic contacts between the two countries is for
now below the level of friendly, brotherly relations between the two
nations. "Armenia and Belarus are allies in all areas. We have all
the prerequisites for taking our trade and economic ties to a brand
new level. Our delegation includes representatives of the Armenian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who are going to meet with Belarusian
colleagues today. I think the idea of a Belarusian-Armenian business
forum will appeal to many representatives of business circles,"
noted Eduard Sharmazanov.
On 12 July the delegation of Armenian MPs visited the memorial complex
Brest Hero Fortress, where flowers were laid at the Eternal Flame
and slabs of the necropolis, under which remnants of the fortress'
defenders lay. So far the names of eight Armenians, who fought in the
fortress during the first days of war, are known. A total of about
100 Armenia natives were stationed in the fortress on the eve of the
Great Patriotic War, including political commissar Samvel Matevosyan,
one of the heroes of the defense battle.
The head of the Armenian delegation said that an idea to immortalize
the memory about the Armenians with a special gravestone was born
during the trip. He invited the Brest authorities to decide where the
gravestone will be placed to symbolize the memory about the heroic
defenders and the brotherly relations between Belarus and Armenia.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National
Assembly of Belarus Viktor Guminsky and Deputy Chairman of the National
Security Commission of the House of Representatives of the National
Assembly Vladimir Bazanov accompanied the delegation of Armenian
parliamentarians during their trip to Brest Oblast.
http://news.belta.by/en/news/society?id=720942
From: A. Papazian