Agreements on the enhancement of the Armenian-Georgia cooperation are reached

On June 14, the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who arrived in Georgia on a working visit, had a meeting with his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze.

The meeting of the Ministers started in a tête-à-tête format and afterwards continued with the participation of the delegations.

Welcoming Edward Nalbandian, Grigol Vashadze highly appreciated the cooperation, which is being developed with Armenia in different areas and mentioned that the authorities of Georgia has a political will to more deepen and expand interaction between the two countries.

In his turn Edward Nalbandian thanked for the invitation to visit Tbilisi and warm welcome and mentioned with satisfaction that the leadership of Armenia and Georgia is interested in the enhancement and development good-neighbourly relations.

The two stressed that the regular meetings of the Ministers create an opportunity for successful implementation of the agreements reached between the Heads of states, as well as for the elaboration of new projects of cooperation.

They touched upon the issues concerning the intensification of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, discussed the process of implementation of the joint programmes in the areas of transport and energy.

The agenda of the negotiations also included the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Georgian border and within that context the realization of the instructions of the Presidents of the two countries, as well as the issues concerning the facilitation of the conatcts of the residents of bordering villages.

Within the context of the discussion on the Armenian-Georgian cultural cooperation Minister Nalbandian expressed satisfaction with the intensification of exchanges registered in the cultural area, especially in regard with the success of the Cultural Days of Georgia held in Armenia and the Cultural Days of Armenia held in Georgia. They agreed to undertake steps that would maintain the successiveness of that positive practice.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Georgia had a detailed discussion on the issues of the Georgian Armenian community’s concern. In that context Grigol Vashadze presented the projects being implemented by the Georgian authorities in the direction of their settlement, particularly in the areas of creation of jobs, construction of roads and improvement of conditions of educational and cultural institutions.

The two exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues.

The meeting was followed by the joint press conference of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Georgia.

Answering the question on the possible role of Georgia in the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, Edward Nalbandian said that at the beginning of the process and during the process whole international community supported it and naturally Armenia welcomes the wish of all countries to assist the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and added that at this moment the issue is the return of Turkey to the language of preconditions. “We will be ready to move forward if there is again a partner in Turkey ready to move forward with the normalization without any preconditions,” Minister Nalbandian said.

On the same day in the evening by the helicopter provided by the President of Georgia the Armenian Foreign Minister left for Batumi, where Edward Nalbandian was received by President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Edward Nalbandian delivered the greetings of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to the Leader of Georgia.

Mikheil Saakashvili expressed satisfaction with the good-neighbourly relations established between Armenia and Georgia and mentioned that the dialogue established with the President of Armenia creates an opportunity for effectively moving forward the bilateral interaction.

President Saakashvili and Minister Nalbandian exchanged views on the issues of bilateral agenda, discussed the process of implementing the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries, as well as the realization of projects of economic cooperation.

In the course of the meeting they also discussed a number of issues of the Georgian Armenian community’s concern and the ways of their settlement.

On Mikheil Saakashvili’s request, Minister Nalbandian presented the situation existing in the process of peaceful settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue and the recent developments in the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Georgian President asked to deliver his good wishes to the leader of Armenia.

On June 14 in the morning during the meeting with the Georgian Armenian community Edward Nalbandian spoke about the current situation in the Armenian-Georgian relations and their perspectives, informed on his meetings. On the request of the representatives of the Georgian Armenian community, the Armenian Foreign Minister presented the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy.

Concluding his visit Minister Nalbandian returned to Yerevan.