ARMENIA, GEORGIA FOCUS ON BOOSTING FRIENDLY RELATIONS IN 2008

ARKA
Jan 22, 2009

YEREVAN, January 22. /ARKA/. Boosting friendly relations was the core
of Armenia-Georgia cooperation in 2008, the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs says in its annual report.

Throughout 2008, Armenia and Georgia focused on implementation of
joint programs, as well as improvement of the social and economic
situation of the Armenian community in Georgia, the document says.

The RA Foreign Ministry pays special attention to the impact of the
South Ossetian conflict on the region. "The bloody events affected
Armenia’s economy, with the railway linking Armenia and Georgia staying
idle for a long time and stopping the shipment of essential goods to
Armenia through Georgia," the report says.

According to the document, the Armenian government had to make
tremendous efforts to revive the economy.

The RA Foreign Ministry also touches upon top-level meetings between
Armenian and Georgian officials and RA President Serge Sargsyan’s
three-day visit to Georgia in early October 2008. During the meeting,
the Armenian and Georgian leaders agreed on construction of an
alternative route and, across-the-border cooperation, as well as
simplification of order crossing procedures between the two neighbor
countries.

Last year, the Armenian president was awarded with the Highest Order
of Georgia.

The document also touches upon RA Prime Minister’s visit to Georgia20on
December 9 to participate in the seventh joint meeting of the
intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation. The meeting
aimed at boosting bilateral partnership, the RA Foreign Ministry says.

On September 12, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan paid a two-day
official visit to Georgia.

The Georgian government’s support to local Armenian schools throughout
2008 and training courses for Armenian teachers are also included in
the report.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress