Burjanadze Meets Armenian PM

Civil Georgia, Georgia
June 2 2005

Visiting Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met with Georgian
Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze on June 2 and discussed
issues related with the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti region,
which is predominately populated by ethnic Armenians and resumption
of railway link between Georgia and Russia via breakaway Abkhazia.

Andranik Margaryan is visiting Georgia to participate in the summit
of heads of governments of Commonwealth of Independent States, which
is scheduled in Tbilisi on June 3.

After the talks Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze told
reporters that the Georgian authorities plan to launch comprehensive
social programs in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region in order to ease
those problems which might occur in the process of withdrawal of
Russian military base stations there in the town of Akhalkalaki. Part
of the locals in Akhalkalaki is employed at this military base.

Nino Burjanadze emphasized that like in other parts of Georgia,
social situation is also difficult in Javakheti.

“The social-economic situation is very difficult there, however not
very different from other regions of Georgia. We intend to implement
serious programs in Samtskhe-Javakheti,” Nino Burjanadze said on
June 2.

In respect of resumption of railway link via Abkhazia, Burjanadze
reiterated Georgia’s position, that Tbilisi wants this process to
occur in parallel to return of Georgian internally displaced persons
back to Abkhazia.

“The Armenian side accepts this stance with understanding,” she said.

Restoration of railway via Abkhazia is of vital importance for Armenia,
which can get a rail access to its strategic partner – Russia if
Georgia agrees to rehabilitate railway connection through Abkhazia.