Minister Nalbandian’s meetings with Georgian authorities
armradio.am
13.09.2008 13:02
RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s visit to Georgia started on
September 12. Upon his arrival in Tbilisi, Minister Nalbandian had a
meeting with his Georgian counterpart Eka Tkeshelashvili.
The interlocutors discussed the latest developments in the region and
the opportunities for coming out of the situation established. In this
regard, the Armenian Foreign Minister expressed hope that the efforts
of the international community targeted at the peaceful resolution of
the existing problems will pave the way for resolving the issue
exceptionally in a peaceful way, through negotiations and dialogue.
Minister Nalbandian expressed gratitude to the Georgian authorities for
the support in ensuring the safe return of Armenian tourists from
Adjaria. Upon the request of Eka Tkeshelashvili, Edward Nalbandian
presented the latest developments in the negotiation process on the
Karabakh conflict settlement, as well as the possibilities of
normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations.
The interlocutors turned to the cooperation between Armenia and Georgia
within international organizations. Edward Nalbandian invited his
Georgian counterpart to visit Armenia. The meeting of the two Ministers
was followed by a joint press conference.
Later Edward Nalbandian met with the Prime Minister of Georgia Lado
Gurgenidze. During the negotiations at the Georgian Government RA
Foreign20Minister emphasized the necessity of uninterrupted export and
import of goods to Armenia through Georgian territory, and thanked the
Georgian authorities for reconstruction of the damaged railway bridge
and the willingness to cooperate with Armenia on the matter.
Edward Nalbandian and Lado Gurgenidze discussed a broad framework of
issues related to bilateral economic cooperation.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister and Georgia’s Prime Minister turned to
bilateral economic cooperation, attaching importance to the soon
conduct of the recurrent sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission,
as well as the opportunity of a meeting between the Prime Ministers of
Armenia and Georgia. Minister Nalbandian and Prime Minister Gurgenidze
also discussed questions Georgian Armenians are concerned about.
The same day Minister Nalbandian was received by the President of
Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. Minister Nalbandian noted that Armenia is
probably the country most interested in Georgia’s stability, security
and peace not only because it realizes 70% of commodity turnover
through Georgian territory, but also because the two neighbor countries
and peoples are linked with centuries-old friendship.
At Mikheil Saakashvili’s request, Minister Nalbandian presented the
situation of the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue
and the perspectives of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Issues connected with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s forthcoming
official visit to Georgia were also discussed.
On September 13 at the Armenian Embassy in Georgia Edward Nalbandian
met with representatives of the Georgian-Armenian community. During the
meeting Minister Nalbandian presented the main directions and
priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. He turned to the functions of
the Diaspora Ministry to be established in Armenia.
The same day Minister Nalbandian returned to Yerevan.