ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT STARTS THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ITALY

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27. ARMINFO. Armenia’s President Rabert Kocharyan
started today a three-day official visit to Italy on the invitation of
his Italian counterpart Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Kocharyan is being accompanied by FM Vardan Osknayan, Trade and
Economic Development Minister Karen Tchshmarityan, Agriculture
Minister David Lokyan, businessmen.

The president is to meet with the Italian president, PM, senators and
businessmen.

The sides are to sign agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance
in small and medium-sized business and customs. In Vatican Kocharyan
is to meet with Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia Nerses Pogos and to see the newly
unveiled monument to Grigor the Enlightener. Jan 28 Kocharyan is to go
to Venice to meet with the local authorities and Armenian community.

One of the goals of the visit is to enlarge Armenian-Italian political
ties, exchange views on the political issues of mutual concern and to
conclude agreements on cooperation within international
organizations. This is the first official visit of Kocharyan to
Italy. Kocharyan is to come back Jan 30.

The National Statistical Service of Armenia reports that in Jan-Nov
2004 the Armenian-Italian trade turnover totalled $63 mln – Armenian
exports $26 mln, Italian imports $36.5 mln.