JOINT SITTING OF RA AND NKR GOVERNMENTS

DeFacto Agency
July 7 2008
Armenia

A delegation of RA government headed by Tigran Sargsian, RA PM, paid
an official visit to Nagorno-Karabakh. On July 4 the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic President Bako Sahakian received the delegation. In the
course of the meeting the parties discussed the issues referring to
deepening and enlarging both Republics’ cooperation in various spheres.

During the talk with journalists RA PM underscored that current
visit was not of acquaintance but practical nature. In his words,
RA authorities, in the person of the government, will do their best
to render assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh.

On July 5 the two Armenian Republics’ governments held working
discussions.

Ara Harutyunian and Tigran Sargsian, RA and NKR PMs, held a
tête-a-tête meeting, after which a joint meeting was held with the
participation of members of RA and NKR governments. RA and NKR PMs
positively estimated working discussions.

In the course of a joint governmental sitting the parties discussed the
issues referring to NKR agricultural, social, financial, educational
and cultural spheres.

To note, the cooperation between the governments of two Armenian
states exists as such, and contacts between RA and Nagorno-Karabakh
appropriate structures have been established. "However, it is the
first join sitting", the NKR PM Ara Harutyunian noted while opening
the sitting. The head of the Karabakh government voiced confidence
that such work would contribute to Nagorno-Karabakh’s development.

In his turn, RA PM Tigran Sargsian noted that the first sitting
would initiate traditions of holding such measures in future. "The
concept of amendments of the second generation should be applied in
Nagorno-Karabakh, the realization of which has already started in
Republic of Armenia", the head of the RA government stated.

The parties believe that financial resources will increase at
the expense of method of work proposed by the RA new President,
according to which wherever our compatriots are they should have an
opportunity to participate in the development of the native state’s
economy. However, the people should be presented conceptual approaches,
pointed out the spheres, in the development of which they can
participate. The strategy was discussed both with the NKR President and
at the level of the NKR government. According to Tigran Sargsian, the
concept should demonstrate that making business in NKR is profitable;
the second task is revealing two or three competitive branches that
can become a brand for Artsakh, for instance, agricultural tourism.

In the course of the sitting the NKR PM Ara Harutyunian presented
Artsakh’s perspective branches. In his words, it is agriculture
(in the case of irrigation system’s development), power engineering
and tourism.

According to Armo Tsaturian, vice Premier, NKR Minister of Agriculture,
there is a great potential for agricultural sphere’s development in
Artsakh, however, NKR still imports a lot of products. The problems in
the sphere are connected with consequences of the war. According to the
Minister, there is lack of agricultural equipment in Karabakh. Besides,
tribal cattle-breeding should be revived in Artsakh. Armo Tsaturian
presented NKR state policy in the sphere of agriculture, while
Aramais Grigorian, his colleague from RA, RA Minister of Agriculture,
mentioned the branches, for the development of which Armenia will
render necessary assistance. For example, in the sphere of development
of cattle-breeding and rearing bloodstock RA Ministry of Agriculture
will realize the task of tribal cows’ import and equipment’s delivery
for the amount of $ 100, 000. Assistance will be rendered in the
realization of harvest as well.

According to the RA PM Tigran Sargsian, Artsakh can become a zone
for profitable investments.

The next sphere that was in the focus of attention of the sitting’s
participants is power engineering. The sphere is gradually becoming
priority in Artsakh. Meanwhile, according to Ara Harutyunian, the head
of Karabakh government, only 15-20% of resources are being used in
the NKR. Production of electric power will result in the development
of power-consuming branches. Amendments of energetic sphere have
already started in Nagorno-Karabakh. The state has already started
construction of a number of hydro electro stations – Matagis-1,
Matagis-2, and Trkhe-1.

Nagorno-Karabakh can really produce electric power, which thrice
exceeds demand in internal market. "There are a few such countries
in the world", Armen Movsisian, RA Minister of Power Engineering
and Natural Resources, stated. The Minister also mentioned another
source of producing energy – wind energy. In his words, there are
such possibilities in Artsakh. Legislative amendments are necessary
to draw investors – that is both parties’ conclusion.

As for the NKR social and educational spheres, the problems are just
the same. As for educational sphere, these are issues referring
to transition to higher school system, lack of kindergartens and
establishment of trade schools. As for the sphere of social security,
these are pension amendments. There are problems referring to activity
of social-medicinal commissions.

Speaking of cultural sphere, the sitting’s participants discussed
the issue referring to state of Stepanakert Dramatic Theater. Hasmik
Poghosian, RA Minister of Culture, noted that agreement with producers
from Armenia on working in Artsakh had already been achieved.

In conclusion Yervand Zakharian, Yerevan Mayor, stated one more
agreement concerning cooperation between capital cities of Armenia
and NKR had also been achieved beyond the frames of the agenda.

–Boundary_(ID_DHDLv5HnnwQfOA7UQGyvjQ)–