Armenian speaker, Georgian leadership discuss economic, social issues

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Apr 05

[Presenter] The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan,
is holding negotiations with the Georgian leadership today.

[Correspondent Tatevik Nalbandyan reports from Tbilisi by telephone]
Artur Bagdasaryan’s first meeting in Tbilisi was held with the
leadership of the Georgian parliament. At the beginning of the
meeting, [Georgian President] Mr Mikheil Saakashvili said that he was
going to Ninotsminda the next day to launch the construction of a new
big Armenian school. Saakashvili said that all the roads in
Akhalkalaki [Armenian-populated town in Georgia’s Javakheti District]
are being resurfaced in order to put the city’s transport network in
order.

The reconstruction of the road to the Turkish border will start in
autumn. The Georgian president also assured them that they are
starting to implement large social rehabilitation programmes for
people working in Russian military bases. We are not going to open new
military bases there, but we suggest that volunteers serve in the
Georgian armed forces for higher salaries. Other programmes on
business and other spheres will be offered to those who do not agree,
Saakashvili said.

The Armenian and Georgian parliament speakers discussed prospects for
parliamentary and regional cooperation.

Asked during a news conference after the meeting with Georgian Speaker
Nino Burjanadze how many jobs have been created in Georgia in the last
five years, Mrs Burjanadze said that there was nothing to be proud of
in this issue. She said that economic problems existing not only in
Javakhk are an objective image of Georgia. But now we have a chance to
improve the situation. As an example, we have road construction
programmes, we shall start soon the weather permitting.

The Armenian and Georgian speakers also discussed the resumption of
the Abkhaz rail service. Saakashvili said that Georgia is ready to
discuss this issue and support its solution.

Mikheil Saakashvili thanked Armenia for solving energy problems in the
region and Tbilisi. Thanks to Armenian power supplies, the energy
problems have been resolved in Tbilisi, Saakashvili said.

We had very good discussions on painful issues with [Armenian
President] Robert Kocharyan recently, Mikheil Saakashvili said. Our
talks were very useful for all of us, the Georgian president said.