ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT AJARIA IN JULY

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the Georgian
Minister of Economic Development Irakli Chogovadze was received
on June 17 by the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. The
delegation visited Yerevan in connection with opening a direct railway
communication Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan.

NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information and
PR Department.

Noting the dynamic development of economic and political
relations between Armenia and Georgia, the sides underlined the
importance of timely and efficient implementation of mutually
decisions and agreements. A. Margarian indicated the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication as the best evidence of
it. According to him, the agreement on the launching of this direct
railway communication was reached during his meeting with the Georgian
President and the Prime Minister last summer. Congratulating each other
on this important event, the interlocutors expressed confidence that
the improvement of transport communication between the two countries
will undoubtedly be a stimulus for cooperation and promotion of trade
and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia.

I. Chogovadze expressed confidence that the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication will encourage
development of tourism between the two countries. According to him,
the Georgian government is making considerable investments in Ajaria
for infrastructure improvement: road repairs, hotel construction,
reconstruction of the airport, etc, thanks to which it is envisaged
to receive about 50 thousand tourists from Armenia instead of 20
thousand last year.

The sides also addressed the problems of Javakhk. I. Chogovadze said
that being aware of the urgency to solve the socioeconomic problems
of the region, the Georgian authorities have already allocated funds
for repairs of infrastructures, especially roads, in Javakhk.

A. Margarian said that he will visit Ajaria during the sitting of
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission to be held this July.