M. SAAKASHVILI SAYS THE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA HAS A MOST IMPORTANT ROLE FOR GEORGIA

ARMENPRESS
June 25, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: Mikhail Saakashvili who was in Yerevan
on an official visit met today the students and professors’ staff of
the Yerevan State University. The YSU rector granted the President
with a title of Honorary Doctor and the Golden Medal of the university
which was awarded to him on the decision of the scientific council
of the university.

A. Simonian expressed confidence that the visit of the President of
the neighboring state to Armenia will contribute to the development
and enhancement of bilateral relations. According to him the Tbilisi
State University has its unique role in the issue of development of
Armenian-Georgian relations. He expressed hope that the cooperation
agreement between the two Mother Universities will contribute to
the further enhancement of cooperation in the educational sphere,
especially when the links and relationship between the past of
the two states is a firm bases for the further mutually profitable
cooperation. And the visit of M. Saakashvili – a step forward in the
enhancement of relations.

Georgian President M. Saakashvili expressed gratitude for the
scientific award and noted that the relations between the two states
are hard to be called official. "We have close links, we mutually
fill each other, continue each other," the Georgian President said.

He assured that all the ethnic groups of Georgia are equally
treated. He considered it pleasing that during the two days in Armenia
he felt warmness.

The Georgian President presented the economic developments of Georgia
and registered positive indexes to the YSU students simultaneously
noting that in Georgia as well as in all the states there are economic
issues. He stressed that great investments are also being made in
Javakhq – roads are constructed, infrastructures restored and the
region is connected to natural gas network. The investments made
in Javakhq are more than in any other Georgian region. According to
him the railroad connecting China to Europe must also pass through
Javakhq and the electric station which is being constructed will
have a few thousands of additional employees. With it the issue of
unemployment will also be settled. Referring to Armenian-Georgian
economic relations he noted that the Georgian territory is a transit
way for Armenian cargos and Georgia does everything to ensure their
secure transportation. Although sometimes the aroused issues are
exaggerated and the difficulties connected with transit are on the
whole false.

M. Saakashvili pointed out that the cooperation with Armenia has a
most important role for Georgia and the both sides are interested in
its further development and enhancement.