ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS AJARA

The Messenger, Georgia
June 22 2006

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian is visiting Armenia to
discuss an opening of the Yerevan-Batumi railway line.

Arminfo learned at the Press Office of the Armenian Government that
both sides talked about the dynamic development of Georgian-Armenian
political and economic relations, and stressed the importance of
joint agreements and the opportunely to fulfill previous agreements,
namely, the launch of Yerevan-Batumi Railway Link. The corresponding
agreement was reached last summer when Andranik Margarian met with
the Georgian President and Prime Minister.

Irakli Chogovadze, Minister of Economic Development, noted that the
Batumi-Yerevan railway line would become additional inspiration
to increase tourism between the two states. He said the Georgian
government made considerable investments in Ajara for improvement
in motorways and infrastructure, constructing new hotels, repairing
Batumi Airport. It is anticipated that over 50 000 Armenian tourists
will visit Georgia this year.

The sides also talked about the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region,
predominantly populated by Armenians. Chogovadze noted that the
Georgian authorities, taking into account the grave socioeconomic
situation of the segion, spent large sums rehabilitating motorways.

Andranik Margarian said that he was going to visit Batumi in July
within the Georgian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission.