Public TV, Armenia
Oct 13 2007

Armenian premier, Nagornyy Karabakh officials discussing economic problems

[Presenter] Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan has spent several
hours of his working day in Nagornyy Karabakh. Sargsyan went to
Stepanakert together with members of the Armenian cabinet and the
chairman of the Central Bank.

Members of the Armenian government delegation and the newly-elected
Nagornyy Karabakh president, as well as members of the Nagornyy
Karabakh cabinet discussed mainly economic issues. The government of
the Nagornyy Karabakh will soon submit its action programme to the
parliament for approval.

Sargsyan specified how the Armenian government can help Artsakh
[Karabakh] to eliminate obstacles standing in the way of economic
development.

[Correspondent reporting from Stepanakert] The Armenian government
delegation led by Prime Minister Sargsyan arrived in Stepanakert
today. The Armenian delegation was met at a high level in Nagornyy
Karabakh. The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], Bako
Sahakyan, the speaker of the parliament, Ashot Ghulyan, and the prime
minister, Ara Harutyunyan, met the guests at the airport. After that,
the officials headed for the NKR president’s residency.

At first, Sargsyan and Sahakyan held a one-to-one meeting which
lasted about two hours. After that, an expanded meeting was held with
the NKR prime minister and finance ministers of the two republics in
attendance. Today there is a serious problem in stimulating the
development of the NKR economy and discussions are aimed at
elaborating how the Armenian government can help the NKR government
eliminate obstacles to development.

[Sargsyan] We see that Karabakh has potential for developing its
economy and we also see ways of developing this potential.

[Correspondent] The Armenian and NKR ministers of energy,
agriculture, trade and economic development also discussed the
economic development of Karabakh. During the discussions with the
chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, the future steps of the
credit policy were defined.

[Sahakyan] Armenia has always expressed its readiness to help
Karabakh develop its economy and ensure state building in the
country.

[Passage omitted: details]

[Sargsyan] We have already solved all problems related to the 2007
and 2008 budget. But I am saying again that all wealth should be
created here. We can only play the role of a supporter.

[Correspondent] The Armenian prime minister and the NKR president
decided to hold such meetings twice a year and discuss the results of
the agreements that were reached.