SYRIA AND ARMENIA: EVER-GROWING HISTORICAL TIES

Syrian Arab news agency SANA
June 16 2009
Syria

Damascus, (SANA)-Syria and Armenia enjoy good relations that are
built on solid foundations and mutual interests.

The two countries have sought to bolster these ties in all spheres
as exemplified by signing the diplomatic agreement and establishing
formal ties in 1992.

Hence, President Bashar al-Asad’s visit to Armenia due on Wednesday,
upon a formal invitation by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
comes to give these relations a further impetus in all political,
economic and cultural domains, and to discuss latest developments on
the Middle East arena.

In an interview with SANA, Armenian ambassador in Damascus Arshak
Poladian said that bilateral political ties between the two countries
are exceptional and constitute a fertile ground for boosting
cooperation in all spheres.

"President al-Asad’s visit to Armenia constitutes a historical juncture
in the two countries’ relations," he added.

He also said that 6 agreements are due to be signed during the
visit in the fields of investment, environment conservation, and an
agreement between Writers’ Unions in the two countries in addition
to an agreement between the Syrian and Armenian TVs. The ambassador
also offered a historical overview of the Syrian-Iranian relations,
recalling that the former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrossian’s
first post-independence visit to a foreign country was to Syria,
and that the first Armenian embassy was in Damascus.

He concluded by saying that his country has a serious desire
to consolidate mutual ties, expressing appreciation of Syria’s
constructive role on the regional and international levels.

The two countries relations have witnessed palpable development
recently in the political, educational and cultural fields, and they
have sought to spur bilateral ties on the economic and trade levels.

In 2007, the Joint Syrian-Armenian Committee for trade and economic
cooperation was formed and resulted in signing a set of economic
agreements between the two countries. Also, an agreement on forming
a joint business council between businessmen in the two countries
was inked.

Since 1992, the two countries have signed a number of agreements
and protocols in relation to trade, avoiding tax evasion, chemical
industries, customs, land and air transport, agriculture, tourism,
housing, construction, health, information, culture and education.

Culturally, Syria and Armenia have exceptional ties as illustrated by
Armenian Minister of Culture who visited Damascus last year and said:
"History is littered with exquisite Syrian works, especially with
regard to the relations with Armenia".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress