Monday, 17 May 2010
The head of government received a Czech Republic Prime Minister-led delegation
A delegation headed by Czech Republic Prime Minister Jan Fischer arrived today in Yerevan on a two-day working visit. Welcoming the delegation to the Office of Government, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan had private talks with his Czech counterpart which was followed by an extended meeting of the two delegations.
In greeting the guests, Tigran Sargsyan stated in part: “Following our previous meeting, we had enough time to clarify those items discussed in Prague and concretize the strategy of cooperation. It is nice that we concur in cooperation priorities. At the same time, I am convinced that today’s meeting your visit and the Armenian-Czech business forum will give a strong boost to bilateral relationship.”
Thanking for a warm welcome, Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer said to be hopeful that his visit would be a step forward on the way to strengthening bilateral ties.
The head of the Armenian government made a point of expanding of the legal framework applicable between the two countries.
Information technologies, energy, construction of small HPPS, mining and chemical industries, education, tourism, sport and youth affairs were cited as priority areas of cooperation. Tigran Sargsyan stressed the need for expanding and strengthening cultural linkages which is due to build on the existing ties of friendship.
The Armenian-Czech business forum was said to have a role to play in the identification of new fields of interaction: “It is our duty to create such a business environment as may promote a dialog between the respective private sectors,” Tigran Sargsyan noted in particular.
The parties have discussed ways of furthering cooperation under the European Union’s Eastern Partnership program. In this context, the Prime Minister of Armenia prioritized the transfer of Czech know-how to Armenian authorities through the twinning tool of the European Neighborhood Policy.
The two prime ministers next addressed some regional issues. Appreciative of the Czech government’s position with respect to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic issue, Tigran Sargsyan stated in part: “We very much appreciate our Czech partners’ balanced stance concerning the Karabakh issue, inclusive of the fact that either they consider that the talks underway in the Minsk Group format are the best way to achieving a peaceful settlement.”
After the meeting, the following two instruments were signed by the heads of government: the interstate agreement on repatriation of illegally residing persons and the air transport agreement between the two governments.
The document signing ceremony was followed by the two prime ministers’ joint news conference at the Press Center of the Armenian Government.
