Armenian premier, Georgian minister discuss ethnic minorities’ problems

Arminfo
21 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and Georgian Foreign
Minister Salome Zourabichvili have discussed the strengthening of
relations between the two countries.

At a meeting held today, Markaryan voiced his satisfaction with the
high level of interstate Armenian-Georgian relations based on mutual
confidence and cooperation, and on the traditions of centuries-old
friendship between the two nations, the Armenian government press
service told Arminfo.

Armenian-Georgian relations are a component of regional stability, he
said, adding that nevertheless, these relations require attention and
discussion, especially in the economic sphere.

In this context, Markaryan noted the importance of the Georgian
Foreign Minister’s first official visit to Armenia and stressed that
the visit will promote preparations for his visit to Georgia which
will take place in several days.

[Passage omitted: Markaryan says a wide range of economic issues is to
be discussed during his visit to Georgia]

Talking about the maintenance of regional stability, Markaryan said
that Armenia is interested in stability in Georgia. At his request,
Zourabichvili briefed him on the political situation in Georgia,
particularly on the new situation in Ajaria, the tasks that exist in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia and on the country’s relations with Russia
and Turkey.

The parties also discussed the problem of Javakheti [Georgia’s
Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti Region]. Markaryan stressed that
the Armenians always show interest in the fate of their compatriots
living abroad and voiced his hope that the Georgian authorities will
keep paying attention to the Armenian population in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti Region and solve the social and economic problems
of Georgia’s ethnic Armenian citizens, their education and cultural
issues.

Markaryan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to assist the implementation
of programmes on the social and economic development of
Samtskhe-Javakheti.

The parties reaffirmed the readiness of the two countries’ governments
to strengthen bilateral political and economic ties and to be actively
involved in regional integration processes.