ArmenPress
Aug 6 2004

PM RECEIVED SYRIAN MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND TRADE

YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian PM Andranik Margarian
received yesterday Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Ghassan
al-Rifai and the delegation headed by him who are in Armenia to
participate in the third session of Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental
joint committee.
According to government press services, PM noted that Armenia
attaches great importance to boosting relations with Syria as part of
its policy in Middle East.. He also said, that despite of joint
efforts to develop economic and cultural- scientific cooperation, its
size is far from being satisfactory. He therefore underscored
Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental sessions to which Ghassan al-Rifai
is a co-chair. Syrian Minister of Trade and Economy told the Armenian
PM about the pace of work of the committee’s third session noting
that a number of documents have been signed in the field of health,
communication, tourism and others. Attaching importance to their
implementation, the minister told that the Syrian side intends to
create a working group which will monitor it.
The Armenian PM and minister Ghassan al-Rifai expressed readiness
to increase size of trade turnover in the near future. The sides also
praised several cooperation projects in the fields of education and
culture as part of agreements in previous intergovernmental sessions.
The sides underscored the need for exchange of information through
such entities as Armenian Development Agency, Armenian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and respective bodies in Syria.
Armenian PM thanked the Syrian side for providing wheat and potato
seeds as an aid and as part of cooperation in the field of
agriculture. At the end of the meeting the sides voiced their hope
that the visit of Syrian PM Naji Utri will give a new boost to
Armenian-Syrian relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress