GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN FARMERS LOOK FORWARD TO DEEPER CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION
Georgian Times
Nov 16 2009
Georgia
Various types of potatoes, carrots, cheese, Armenian sausages
‘(Sujuks’), pumpkins and other types of agricultural produce decorated
with Georgian, Armenian and Ukrainian cultural identifiers were
exhibited at the Rustavi Municipal Theatre during the Ethnic Diversity
Festival 2009 on November 11-12.
While farmers presented their products some of the Chairmen of
rural and civil society associations participated in a round table
meeting entitled ‘Prospects of Cross-border Cooperation’ in the Kvemo
Kartli Governor’s Administration building. The central and regional
authorities, as well as international community representatives from
Georgia and Armenia, took part in this meeting.
"Such arrangements are rather important, especially after the
difficulties we experienced at the border the day before the festival
started. Despite the fact we did not have enough produce with us for
it to be classified as items of trade, the numerous procedures we had
to go through still hindered our timely provision of the exhibits,"
said Vakhan Arakelian, of the Spitak Farmers’ Association.
Vardo Egoian from Tsalka claims that similar problems are met by
farmers willing to export their produce to Armenia from Georgia. "We
produce potatoes in big volumes but we don’t have the means to sell
them," said Tsalka Governor’s Advisor Vardo Egoyan. "If the customs
procedures are simplified for exporting goods to Armenia this will
be a great help, as we have goods but no market and just have to let
them spoil."
Vardo and Vakhan are among the farmers who participated in the
festival. "We have shared information on our current and planned
activities, experiences and lessons learned in respective fields
and discussed existing problems and ways of overcoming them. It
was interesting to meet the authorities and international community
representatives working on cross-border cooperation issues between
Georgia and Armenia," said Vakhan Arakelian.
The Ethnic Diversity Festival 2009 was organised as part of the
Poverty Reduction and Confidence-building in Border Areas of Georgia
and Armenia by Strengthening Civil Societies in Sustainable Rural
Development (STAGE II) project. It lasted for two days and the
second day was devoted to training target associations and local
authorities on diversity management issues. "The goal of the project
is to strengthen 10 targeted civil society institutions and local
authorities from the stipulated border regions (Samtskhe-Javakheti and
Kvemo Kartli from the Georgian side and Lori, Shirak and Tavush from
the Armenian side) and provide increased cross-border cooperation
to achieve sustainable rural development," says Ketevan Kheladze,
STAGE II Project Manager.
Kheladze said that the total Budget of the STAGE II project is 463.980
Euro. It began on May 1, 2009 and will last until October 31, 2011. A
number of similar festivals will be held in Georgia and Armenia during
this period.
"These activities are rather important for both countries, as the the
bordering regions of Georgia and Armenia have substantial potential
to form a rather attractive investment zone. For this to happen,
we should continue our work on the harmonisation of fields of law,
transportation and tax systems and in the good governance sphere,
which should create a common investment environment", said Prof. Kote
Khmaladze, Head of the Regional Economic Development Department of
the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
The STAGE II project is being implemented by CARE Osterreich and
CARE International in the Caucasus, along with partner organisations
the Civil Development Agency (CiDA) in Georgia and the Centre for
Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) in Armenia. STAGE II is
financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation and Cooperation with
Eastern Europe (ADC).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress