Pravda, Russia
March 23 2004

Japan sends financial aid to promote stability of South Caucasus

The Armenian agriculture minister, David Lozhan, and an adviser to
the economic section of the Japanese embassy in Russia, Masataka
Esidzave, on Monday signed an agreement for the transfer to Armenia
of a Japanese grant worth USD 1.8 million.

As reported by a Rosbalt correspondent, the grant would be used to
buy fertilizer and agricultural equipment for Armenian farmers.
According to Masataka Esidzave, Japan considers the South Caucasus to
be an extremely important region, both politically and economically.

‘It is important to us that the South Caucasus be stable,’ he said,
noting that Japanese financial aid was intended specifically to
promote stability in the region. In 1997, Japan granted Armenia
financial assistance worth more than USD 19 million.