Georgian president calls for greater economic links with Armenia

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
15 Aug 05

[Presenter] About an hour ago President Saakashvili opened the
newly-renovated boulevard in Batumi. Our correspondent Diana Trapaidze
is in Batumi and has the details.

[Passage omitted]

[Correspondent] We said that many Armenian people have come here
on holiday and some Armenian journalists are here too, reporting on
Ajaria. Naturally, they are interested in Ajaria because many of their
fellow citizens are holidaying here. The president met the Armenian
journalists and we can now listen to what he said to them.

[Saakashvili, in Russian] I see with delight how rapidly the Armenian
economy is developing. Annual growth in Armenia is about 10 per cent.
I think that there are many things we should learn from Armenia, for
example how to organize the banking system, a system for micro-loans,
a cooperative system in agriculture and the export of agricultural
produce.

I think that we do not just need to learn about these areas, we should
establish links. We should also develop links to organize visits to
both countries, so that people who go to Armenia also come to Georgia
and vice versa. There should be no border obstacles.

I think there are good opportunities for working together in the
energy sector, not just bilaterally, but also the transit of energy,
electricity or gas.

There are also opportunities that have not been exploited at all.

Over the years we have had two feudal economies. This era will end. I
think Armenia emerged from this crisis earlier and Georgia is now
enjoying rapid economic growth. Developing without each other would
not be rational, natural or right.

[Passage omitted]