Friday, 23 May 2008
Later yesterday, the RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-led government delegation arrived in the capital of Belarus Minsk to participate in the session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.
Ahead of the session, the Prime Minister met with his Georgian counterpart Lado Gurgenidze. Tigran Sargsyan congratulated him on completion of parliamentary elections in Georgia and expressed hope that these elections will constitute a serious step forward on the way to democracy and the settlement of those problems facing the country. The Georgian Prime Minister advised that the international observer missions have stated the successful completion of these elections which is of high importance to his country.
Asked so by his counterpart, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan briefed him on Armenia's new government cabinet and the priorities set forth under the program of government.
The two prime ministers prioritized the activities of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission headed by the respective heads of government in respect of the further strengthening and development of bilateral relations and cooperation. They agreed to continue presiding over the proceedings of the commission and to call a commission session in the month of June, which in their words would help boost economic interaction between the two countries.
Tigran Sargsyan and Lado Gurgenidze also spoke about the ongoing cooperation programs and the existing bottlenecks. Appreciative of the cooperation in the energy sector, both sides have stressed the need for boosting mutual investments in the financial and banking sectors, as well as the cooperation in the frameworks of regional programs.
Prime Minister Sargsyan took the opportunity to impart to his Georgian counterpart some concerns of the Armenian side and ask for Mr. Gurgenidze's intervention with their decision. In particular, the head of the Armenian government referred to the high tariffs charged for the transit of Armenian goods across the territory of Georgia by noting that it was crucial for the Armenian side to be aware of the logic behind their formation. Tigran Sargsyan also called his interlocutor's attention to the legal status of the Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressed concern at the encroachments on the Armenian churches and reiterated provocations as attempted from time to time by clerical and secular radical elements in Georgia. The Armenian Prime Minister said that these attempts are adding to the tensions available in the society. He especially pointed out the recent attempt for enclosing unlawfully the territory round the Surb Norashen church in Tbilisi and those far-reaching plans behind such steps as have been made public by their perpetrators.
Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze condemned extreme approaches and provocative actions. He promised to follow up the matter and intervene as necessary.
