Armenian premier thanks Japan for financial assistance

Arminfo
8 Jun 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, who is paying a working
visit to Japan, met his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi at
midday today.

Markaryan said that Armenia attaches special importance to expanding
cooperation with Japan and rates highly Japan’s contribution to the
preservation of stability and peace, as well as its assistance to
developing countries, the press service of the Armenian government has
reported. The Armenian prime minister expressed the hope that Japan
will continue to maintain a neutral position on the resolution of
regional conflicts within the framework of international cooperation.

Markaryan thanked Japan for continuous technical assistance to
Armenia, as well as for grant and loan programmes in the sphere of
small and medium-sized businesses, energy, agriculture, health care
and culture.

The sides expressed the hope that cooperation between the two
countries will expand. They pointed out cooperation in the sphere of
seismology where Armenian and Japanese scientists have achieved great
success. The sides also confirmed the agreement on holding an
Armenian-Japanese business forum in Moscow on 24 June.

Markaryan thanked Japan on behalf of the Armenian government for a
150m-dollar soft loan for the energy sphere, which is the largest one
among those allocated by donor countries.

The sides pointed out that cooperation in the sphere of information
technologies, chemical industry, processing of foodstuffs and tourism
was more effective.

Tomorrow, the Armenian prime minister will meet the management of the
Japanese Bank of International Cooperation and will visit the
Panasonic centre.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress