AGOS, Istanbul
Nov 6 2009

Armenia – State visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Kuwait

After the official welcoming ceremony in the airport of El Kuwait and
a brief meeting with the Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received in his residence the
Chairman of the Kuwait Investment Authority, Bader Muhammad
Al-Sahadin.

During the meeting the President of Armenia noted that after regaining
independence Armenia adopted a policy of free market economy and as a
developing country is ready to cooperate with the Investment
Authority, creating proper conditions for a successful implementation
of different investment programs. In his turn, Bader Muhammad
Al-Sahadin said that the Investment Authority is implementing
investment programs in a number of developing countries and will be
happy to start cooperation with our country as well. Among possible
areas of the implementation of the Investment Authority programs
mentioned were areas of energy, agriculture, real estate, and mining.
The parties reached agreement to send a group of Armenian experts to
Kuwait, to discuss in detail with the Investment Authority the
prospects of cooperation and real investment proposals.

Serzh Sargsyan also met with the Executive Director of the Economic
Development Fund Abdulwahab Ahmad al-Bader. The Fund is one of the
major establishments among development institutions of the Gulf
countries, whose efforts are aimed at the economic advancement of Arab
and other developing states through loans, technical assistance
grants, investment projects, and capital participation. President
Sargsyan said that Armenia is interested in enhancing cooperation in
different areas and is ready to start interaction with the Fund in
different areas, creating necessary conditions for the implementation
of the investment projects of different caliber. In his turn, the
Executive Director of the Economic Development Fund stressed the
importance of their participation in Armenia’s economic development
and expressed readiness to carefully discuss opportunities for
cooperation and concrete investment projects with the group of experts
which is arrive to Kuwait.

At his residence, the President of Armenia met also with the Speaker
of the National Assembly of Kuwait Jassem Mohammad al-Kharafi and the
Prime Minister of Kuwait Nasir Al-Muhammad Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

`This is my first visit to the Gulf country and is aimed at providing
a new impetus to our relations with the countries of the Gulf region.
Armenia is deeply interested in developing relations with Kuwait and
other Gulf countries, and with this regard the Parliaments can play a
significant role,’ stressed Serzh Sargsyan during his meeting with the
Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait. In his turn, Jassem
Mohammad al-Kharafi underscored that high level reciprocal visits and
contacts enhance bilateral relations and send a clear signal to the
business communities of the two countries. The interlocutors concurred
that bilateral relations have a great potential for development and
stressed the importance of a more active engagement of the friendship
groups in both Parliaments for deepening that cooperation. The Speaker
of the National Assembly of Kuwait proposed to organize the Days of
Armenia in Kuwait and to introduce the people of Kuwait to the tourism
opportunities in Armenia since in Kuwait Armenia is known as a
beautiful and attractive country.

During the meeting with the Prime Minister of Kuwait discussed were
issues related to the development of economic cooperation of the two
countries. The parties noted that esteem and kind disposition of the
Armenia and Arab peoples towards each other provided a fertile soil on
which the cooperation in different areas can flourish, utilizing the
entire potential of economic and cultural cooperation. Serzh Sargsyan
said that Armenia has a positive experience of cooperation with a
number of Gulf States and the Armenian-Kuwaiti cooperation can achieve
considerable success if corresponding and persistent steps are taken.
To implement the agreements reached during Serzh Sargsyan’s visit and
to institutionalize the development of bilateral relations, it was
decided to establish an intergovernmental commission. The President of
Armenia and the Prime Minister of Kuwait concurred that establishment
of the embassies in Yerevan and El Kuwait would further promote
bilateral relations and constant political dialogue, noting that the
small trade turnover between the two countries does not reflect the
existing potential. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two
countries were instructed to take more active steps in consultations
regarding opening of the embassies in the two capitals. They also
reached agreement to speed up the process of preparing for signing the
agreement between Armenia and Kuwait on encouragement and mutual
protection of investments.

At the conclusion of the first day of his state visit, the President
of Armenia conducted negotiations with the Emir of Kuwait Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Expressing gratitude to the President of
Armenia for accepting his invitation and coming to Kuwait on a state
visit, Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed confidence that
President Sargsyan’s visit would serve as a strong impetus for moving
forward cooperation in different areas, based on centuries-long
friendship of the Arab and Armenian peoples, mutual fondness and
esteem. `There are no obstacles or issues that could hinder the
development of our relations. High level visits such as this one, are
to be considered a strong impetus for the development of bilateral
relations,’ said the Emir of Kuwait. In his turn, President Sargsyan
thanked the Emir of Kuwait for the invitation and warm reception and
underlined that Armenia is deeply interested in developing political
dialogue, economic and cultural cooperation with the State of Kuwait,
adding that although not a large but well-organized Armenian community
in Kuwait is a reliable bridge of friendship between the two
countries. Serzh Sargsyan said that the Armenian authorities are ready
to discuss thoroughly, create necessary conditions and provided
assistance for the implementation in our country of the prospective
investment programs. The President of Armenia and the Emir of Kuwait
exchanged also views on the issues related to regional security,
present problems and conflict resolution processes. Serzh Sargsyan
informed the leader of Kuwait about the current stage of the
Armenia-Turkey normalization process, substance of the NK issues and
related peace process. The two sides stressed the importance of
cooperation in multilateral settings ` in international organizations
and structures. President Sargsyan expressed confidence that opening
of the embassies and regular political consultations between the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries will promote better
understanding of each other’s problems, which will in turn allow to
come up with a well-founded positions during the discussions and
voting. Sometimes, not sufficient information on Artsakh issue as well
as undue and inadmissible misuse by Azerbaijan of religious solidarity
results in the adoption by the Organization of Islamic Conference of
unjustified decisions.

At the conclusion of the negotiations on the highest level, President
Sargsyan and the Emir of Kuwait were present at the official signing
ceremony of the intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the
areas of agriculture, education, culture and tourism, as well as
agreements on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax
evasion. Serzh Sargsyan and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Ahmad
al-Sabah assessed the signing of five intergovernmental agreements as
a `significant result of the visit of the President of the Republic of
Armenia and an important step in moving cooperation of the two
countries forward.’

After the high-level negotiations, in Bayan Palace in the capital of
Kuwait, the Emir of Kuwait gave official dinner in honor of the
President of Armenia.

In the framework of the visit, President Sargsyan visited also a
scientific center located in Salmiya area, where he was introduced to
the activities of the center which is working on the problems of the
Gulf ecosystem. Serzh Sargsyan toured the exhibit with marine animals,
observed artifacts of the history of Kuwait, and made an inscription
in the Book of honorary guests.

During his meeting with President of the Commerce and Industry Chamber
of Kuwait, President of Armenia welcomed the agreement on cooperation
with the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Armenia. The parties reached
agreement regarding the visit of the Kuwaiti businessmen to Armenia,
where they can see first hand investment opportunities and look into
the prospects of cooperation. The President of the Commerce and
Industry Chamber of Kuwait extended invitation to the business circles
and organizations of Armenia to participate in the implementation of
the five-year development program of Kuwait.

In the framework of his visit, President Serzh Sargsyan met also with
the representatives of the Armenian community of Kuwait, told them
about the results of the visit and reached agreements, as well as
Armenia’s social and economic development, the necessity of
preservation of the Armenian identity and Armenia-Spyurq unity,
Armenia-Turkey normalization process and the NK peace process. He also
answered questions raised by our brothers and sisters residing in
Kuwait.