PRIME MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND BULGARIA UNDERLINE NECESSITY TO INCREASE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Despite the high potential
existing in the relations between Armenia and Bulgaria, the level of
the bilateral economic relations is not high enough, the Armenian
prime minister Serge Sargsian and his Bulgarian counterpart Sergei
Stanishev stated at the November 13 joint press conference. They
expressed dissatisfaction with the commodity turnover between the
two countries, which currently makes 31 million dollars.

S. Sargsian said that with the aim of promoting the bilateral economic
relations, a decision was made to hold a business forum in Bulgaria
in 2008.

The two prime ministers expressed a high opinion about the freindly
historical links and about the level of political relations between
Armenia and Bulgaria. S. Stanishev noted the Armenian community’s
great role in the social, economic and cultural life of Bulgaria. In
his words, the members of the Armenian community has integrated well
into the Bulgarian society.

It was announced at the press conference that during the Bulgarian
prime minister’s visit to Armenia, a number of agreements were signed,
including those on cooperation in agriculture, in culture, on creation
of an intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, etc.

Agreements have been reached that Bulgaria will assist Armenia with
personnel training in a number of spheres. S. Stanishev stated that as
a member of the Europen Union, Bulgaria has assumed the obligations
to provide assistance for economic development of several countries,
including Armenia.

According to him, Bulgaria is ready to assist Armenia under the
programs implemented within the framework of the BSEC.

Both prime ministers appreciated the results of the visit of the
Bulgarian governmental delegation to Armenia and expressed a hope
that this visit will become yet another stimulus for development of
the bilateral relations.