TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GREECE DO NOT REFLECT YET POTENTIAL FOR BILATERAL COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian received on March 29 the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister
Evripidis Stylianidis, who is on a visit to Armenia with the aim of
participating, as the Greek side’s co-chairman, in the fourth sitting
of the Armenian-Greek intergovernmental commission on economic,
industrial, scientific and technical cooperation.

Expressing appreciation for the current level of Armenian-Greek
political cooperation, A. Margarian noted that the contacts and
mutual visits at various levels are conducive to it. He attached
importance to the activization of interparliamentary links and
the promotion of cooperation in international structures and
organizations, particularly, within the framework of the EU European
Neighborhood Policy, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization,
the Council of Europe and the NATO. In his words, all this will create
favorable conditions for the further development of bilateral economic
relations. Expressing the opinion of the Greek side, E. Stylianidis
noted that Greece is ready to provide the possible assistance to
Armenia with the implementation of Eurointegration, NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan and many other programs, which, according to
him, will proceed from the bilateral Armenian-Greek interests, as well
as from the interests aimed at the regional stability and development.

Speaking about the current state and development rates of the
Armenian-Greek trade and economic relations, the interlocutors noted
that they do not reflect yet the existing potential for cooperation
between the two countries.

Pointing out the role of the joint intergovernmental commission
as important, the RA Prime Minister expressed confidence that the
commission’s activities will be successful. The sides underlined
the practical steps for cooperation in various spheres of economy,
particularly in agriculture, industry, science and technology, energy
sector, tourism, etc. Expressing satisfaction over the process of the
fourth sitting of the Armenian-Greek intergovernmental commission,
E. Stylianidis said that among the issues to be discussed by the
commission are the current state and development prospects of
the bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the mechanisms for
performance of the agreements reached, prospects of cooperation within
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy, issues related to
cooperation in trade and other spheres of economy.

He expressed a hope that making decisions aimed at the solution of
the both current problems and those remaining from the past will allow
to present Armenia to Greek partners as a reliable country with good
opportunities to make sound investments. A. Margarian in his turn
underlined that the RA government is interested in creating equal
conditions for all businessmen in the country, including foreign ones,
which, in his opinion, may contribute to further development of links
and relations with various companies, as well as with the states
they represent. According to a press release of the RA Government
Information and PR Department, at the conclusion of the meeting the
RA Prime Minister wished the commission successful activities for
the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.