DEPUTY FM STYLIANIDIS VISITS ARMENIA
Athens News Agency, Greece
March 30 2006
The political will to strengthen economic and trade relations and
development cooperation between Greece and Armenia was confirmed in
Yerevan on Wednesday with the signing of a cooperation protocol by
Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and with the bilateral
contacts the Greek deputy minister had with Armenia’s political
leadership.
The promotion of the two countries’ bilateral relations is a commitment
by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, during the latter’s visit to Athens in November 2005,
Stylianidis said and termed Armenia a “strategic partner of Greece
in the region of the Black Sea.”
With the signing of the economic, industrial, technical and scientific
cooperation protocol, the work of the fourth Joint Interministerial
Committee, at which economic and development issues were examined
and which was jointly chaired by Stylianidis and Armenian Agriculture
Minister Davit Lokyan, came to an end.
After the signing of the document, Stylianidis expressed satisfaction
over the new mobility and the positive reaction of the Armenian side
to resolve “pending issues of the past”, as he said, that concern
Greek investments in Armenia.
The Greek side placed particular emphasis on development cooperation,
stressing that Armenia constitutes a basic priority of its development
policy. It is characteristic that during the 2001-2004 period it
has spent 9.5 million dollars for this purpose and in a “mutually
beneficial” way, as the Greek deputy minister said.
The sectors of financing development projects in Armenia include
agriculture, tourism, support for small and medium-size businesses
and infrastructures.
The protocol also anticipates, in the framework of backing economic
relations, cooperation in the energy sector, as well as the creation
of better conditions to improve the investing climate.
Resolving existing pending issues with Greek companies will contribute
to a climate of stability and reliability for increasing Greek
investments.
“I want a positive response from the Armenian administration so that
I can convey a strong message to the business community of my country
to carry out new investments here,” Stylianidis said and reminded that
Greece is the top foreign investor with capital invested amounting
to 450 million dollars.
The Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) and the Union of Producers
and Businessmen of Armenia signed a cooperation memorandum in the
framework of improving the business climate and drawing the business
communities closer together.
Referring to political relations and the bilateral meetings he had
on Wednesday with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Trade
and Economic Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian and Deputy
Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan, Stylianidis said they were very
constructive and that Greece is prepared to support Armenia with
its European prospects, placing emphasis on the funding instruments
provided for the country.
Athens will also support every initiative by Armenia to harmonise
itself with the European framework and to utilise European funds for
its development.
Stylianidis pointed out that this is the target of Greece’s development
aid for Armenia, to bring it closer to the European Union.