Imedi TV, Georgia
Sept 12 2008

Visiting Armenian foreign minister discusses ties in Georgia

[Presenter] Armenian Foreign Minister [Edvard Nalbandyan] has arrived
in Tbilisi. He is now meeting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Before that the Armenian guest met Prime Minister [Lado Gurgenidze]
and Foreign Minister [Eka Tqeshelashvili]. [Our correspondent] Nino
Vardosanidze is joining us live from the Avlabari [presidential]
residence. What issues did the Armenian minister and the Georgian
leadership discuss?

[Correspondent] The current situation in Georgia and the relations
between the two countries were the main issues discussed at today’s
meeting. The Armenian foreign minister expressed support for Georgia,
stressing that he is interested in the establishment of peace and
security in the region. After that a special briefing was held at the
Foreign Ministry. We, naturally, raised a question regarding Abkhazia
and South Ossetia. You know that Russia expressed the hope that the
Armenian Republic will recognize the two regions. We wanted to know
the position of the Armenian foreign minister in this regard.
Nalbandyan hinted at Nagornyy Karabakh and virtually gave us a
specific answer to the question.

[Edvard Nalbandyan, speaking in Armenian with superimposed Georgian
translation] You are well aware that we have the Karabakh problem
which we should resolve by way of negotiations with our friendly
Azerbaijan, on the basis of the protection of territorial
integrity. We do not recognize Kosovo’s independence and I believe you
will understand why we have this kind of position regarding the issue.

[Eka Tqeshelashvili] All of us in the region are interested in
ensuring that international law should be the basic principle for the
relations that should bring peace and stability for all countries in
the region. In this sense, it should be a point of departure to ensure
that the threats and events which unfortunately Georgia experienced in
the recent period never take place in the region.

[Correspondent] The Armenian foreign minister thanked the Georgian
leadership because during the Russian aggressive attacks Armenian
citizens were peacefully transported to Armenian territory.