WHAT WILL BRING ARMENIA AND BELARUS CLOSER?
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

Prime Ministers of Armenia and Byelorussia Point out Number of Issues
for Fruitful Cooperation

The delegation of statesmen headed by Sergey Sidorski, Prime Minister
of Byelorussia, is currently paying a working visit to Armenia.

Before meeting with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, the
delegation of Belarus statesmen met with RA President Robert
Kocharian. After the meetings, both delegations signed a number
of memorandums.

After signing the memorandums, the Prime Ministers of both
countries touched upon the results of the meetings at a joint press
conference. Andranik Margarian said that they have shaped stable legal
grounds for fruitful cooperation between our countries. He added that
the sides have signed about forty agreements.

Sergey Sidorski stated that the goods turnover between our countries
is gradually growing. As of January-July, 2006, it made $ 14 million,
as compared with the indicator of the last year that totaled to
$15 million. He added that after the last visit of RA PM to Belarus
five years ago, the goods turnover between our countries grew by 6,4
times. At the same time, Mr. Sidorski stated that there are still
great capacity for developing the cooperation between Armenia and
Byelorussia, taking into account the fact that the total annual
commodity turnover of Belarus surpasses $30 billion.

Besides, Mr. Sidorski pointed out the spheres that his country is
interested in. In particular, he mentioned the spheres of jewelry,
brandy production, IT and machinery production. He informed that
"Belshina" company is going to sign an agreement with its Armenian
partner. Moreover, the office of Belarus producers of medical equipment
and medicine are going to open their office in Armenia, soon. The
Belarus "Belaz" tracks are used in the mining industry. The center
for their technical service will also be opened in Yerevan. The sides
are to cooperate in the sphere of energetics, as well. Mr. Margarian
also emphasized the importance of the Belarus agricultural equipment
for Armenia.