Armenian premier pledges aid in developing southern Georgian region

Mediamax news agency
25 May 06

Yerevan, 25 May: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze met in Dushanbe within
the framework of the session of the council of prime ministers of the
CIS states.

Markaryan and Baramidze noted with satisfaction the intensification of
bilateral relations in various spheres, the government’s press service
told Mediamax today.

The sides stressed that the Armenian and Georgian prime ministers will
head the Georgian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation which will promote resolution of a number of issues as
well as elaboration of the joint programmes in the spheres of energy,
transport and tourism.

Andranik Markaryan and Giorgi Baramidze expressed satisfaction with
the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian border, noting
that a regular joint session of relevant commissions is planned to be
held in Yerevan in August.

While speaking about the problems of the Armenian population in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Andranik Markaryan expressed Armenia’s readiness
to assist the Georgian authorities in the implementation of a
comprehensive programme on restoring infrastructure of this region.

The Armenian prime minister expressed the view that it would be useful
to involve the local population and entrepreneurs in the construction
work to soften the “noticeable tension in the region”.

Andranik Markaryan said that according to the bilateral agreements, at
this stage Armenia will help restore some educational institutions in
Javakheti, whereas the volumes and the methods of the future
assistance will be specified after Armenia studies the comprehensive
programme.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress