ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
THE PRESIDENT OF FINLAND TO PAY AND OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA ON
SEPTEMBER 26-28
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. The President of Finland Tarja Halonen
with her husband Pentti Arayarvi will pay and official visit to
Armenia in the framework o his regional tour on September 26-28.
According to the RA President’s Press Service, the main goal of the
visit is to stimulate bilateral international relations, discover the
perspectives for economic development. The Presidents of two
countries will discuss bilateral relations, the EU-Armenia
cooperation, regional issues and will exchange opinions regarding
issues o mutual interest.
On September 27, after the official ceremony of receiving top
officials, the Presidents of Armenia and Finland will have a
tete-a-tete conversation, after which the negotiations will continue
with participation of others.
Halonen will meet the RA NA Speaker, Prime Minister, visit the museum
after Sergei Parajanov, as well as meet the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin the Second. The delegation headed by Halonen will
visit the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
where they will put wreaths. The President of Finland will also meet
professors, teachers and students of Yerevan State University.
Finland acknowledged the independence of Armenia on December 30,
1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries were established on
March 25, 1992. For the recent years the bilateral relations has
developed well. In October 2004 a governmental agreement was signed
between Armenia and Finland on encouragement and protection of
investments, which creates favorable conditions for the commercial
and economic cooperation. In April 2004 a memorandum on understanding
in the sphere of culture was signed between the countries. The
priority directions of cooperation with Finland are in the field of
IT, food industry and agriculture, as well as tourism and services
sector for Armenia.
According to the RA National Statistics Service, the foreign trade
turnover between Armenia and Finland in Jan-Jul 2005 made $3611,4
thsd.. (export – $665.0 thsd., import – $2946.4 thsd.) versus $1724
thsd in 2004 (export – $165.7 thsd., import – $1558.3 thsd.). Thus,
the indicator grew by $1887,4 thsd. ($1 =AMD 448,27). A.H. –0-