RA PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF STORTING OF NORWAY DUSCUSS
PERSPECTIVE SPHERES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 22 meeting, Andranik
Margarian, the RA Prime Minister and Jurgeb Kosmo, the President of
the Storting of the Kingdom of Norway emphasized the tendency of
activization of the Armenian-Norwegian relations and spoke for their
being developed even more. The participants of the meeting attached
importance to strengthening of legal-agreement basis bewteen the two
countries, expressing anxiety with the fact that onle one
Armenian-Norwegian agreement has been signed at present, and another
is at the stage of discussion. Andranik Margarian mentioned that the
Government of Armenia is ready to present draft agreements on
cooperation in mutual security and stimulation of investments, in
avoid of double tax evasion, in the spheres of culture, science and
education and a number of other drafts to discussion by the Norwegian
party. The Prime Minister presented to the Norwegian Storting
President the authorities’ position concerning the relations with the
European Union. He, particularly, attached importance to the
invovlement of the South Caucasuian countries in the “European
Neighbourhood” policy. As for issues of the regional cooperation,
Andranik Margarian stated that Armenia agrees with the approach of the
European Union, according to which, present conflicts obstacle the
stable development of countries of the region. Presenting Armenia’s
position, he secured the veiwpoint that implementation of different
programs of cooperation among all parties, without pre-conditions will
greatly support their settlement. The Prime Minister mentioned that in
the context of its regional policy, Armenia attempts consistently to
improve relations with all neighboring states, including Turkey as
well, without any pre-condition. Jurgen Kosmo emphasized that Armenia,
as a country of cultural values, having Christian traditions of
centuries, can have its deserving contribution in the development of
the international cooperation. He especially mentioned the necessity
of the establishment of peace in the region, security of a stable
safety. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information
and Public Relations Department, among the perspective spheres of the
bilateral cooperation, the parties mentioned the spheres of
information technologies, energy (especially, hydroenergy),
agriculture, science and education, culture. Andranik Margarian
thanked the Armenian Office of the Norwegian Refugee Council for
active works, owing to which hundreds of flats for those suffered of
the earthquake and refugees, medical rehabilitation centers,
water-pipes, community centers, etc. have been built in the marzes of
Armenia since 1988.