Thursday, 11 December 2014
Armenian, Georgian Prime Ministers Hold Top-Level Talks in Tbilisi
Attended by the government delegations headed by the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia, high-level talks were held in the Office of Georgian Government.
The private meeting of the heads of government of the two countries was followed by a meeting in an expanded format, during which they discussed issues on the agenda of bilateral economic cooperation, the implementation of agreements and the prospects for deepening trade and economic relations.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan thanked his counterpart for the invitation to visit Georgia, stressing that frequent high-level mutual visits evidence that Armenia and Georgia enjoy a high level political dialogue and promote bilateral relations.
In turn, Irakli Garibashvili in his opening speech emphasized that Georgia attaches great importance to the further deepening and development of cooperation with friendly Armenia and thanked Hovik Abrahamyan for the warm welcome extended to him during his official visit to Armenia.
Pleased with the current level of bilateral political dialogue, both sides noted the importance of full implementation of the potential available in the trade and economic relations, and in this context touched on upcoming activities.
In a bid to step up trade between the two countries, the interlocutors indicated the need for implementation of new investment programs and the revitalization of the Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission.
Hovik Abrahamyan and Irakli Garibashvili next touched upon Armenia’s and Georgia’s participation in various integration associations. The Prime Minister of Armenia said that Armenia will soon enter into the Eurasian Economic Union, but at the same time our country shall continue to actively cooperate with the European Union in all possible directions. According to Hovik Abrahamyan, Armenia appreciates the continuous implementation of the ongoing programs and numerous reforms in cooperation with the EU.
The Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia stressed that participation in various integration associations should serve the development of the two economies, creating new opportunities for the business environment and should not prevent the deepening of the Armenian-Georgian political, economic and cultural ties.
Expressing satisfaction with the cooperation in the fields of transportation, infrastructure, energy, and humanitarian and cultural fields, the parties discussed programs in each of these areas.
In particular, they stressed the need to continue the construction and modernization of Bagratashen, Bavra and Gogavan border checkpoints, as well as the construction of a new bridge - a bridge of friendship – at Bagratshen-Sadakhlo checkpoint
In terms of improvement of road infrastructure, the Armenian Premier pointed out the great importance of uninterrupted operations of the Upper Lars border crossing.
In the energy sector, the parties emphasized the importance of building a 400 kV power transmission line between Armenia and Georgia, a financing agreement for which was signed on December 9 between the Armenian Ministry of Finance and the German KfW Bank.
Pointing to the importance of initiating regular Yerevan-Tbilisi and Yerevan-Batumi flights, the two heads of government instructed the heads of the responsible authorities to discuss the possibility of resuming the flights.
The Armenian side raised the question Armenian citizens’ stay in Georgia for more than 90 days, in connection with which there appeared to be some problems. Informing that the Georgian migration legislation has been amended accordingly, the Georgian side promised that by the end of the first quarter of 2015 all those issues raised will be addressed for foreign nationals, including for the citizens of Armenia.
In the context of deepening cultural and historical ties, the interlocutors pointed to the need of conservation and restoration of the rich cultural heritage. The Armenian side thanked the Georgian authorities for budgeting funds in 2015 for the repair of the Armenian theater after Petros Adamyan in Tbilisi.
Hovik Abrahamyan conveyed to Irakli Garibashvili President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to attend the ceremony of commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, which will be held on April 24, 2015 in Yerevan.
The parties took the opportunity to discuss issues of regional cooperation, as well as other issues of mutual interest. After the meeting, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia issued a joint statement for the media.
