BULGARIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS OPEN BILATERAL BUSINESS FORUM
BTA news agency
Dec 11 2008
Bulgaria
Sofia, December 11 (BTA) -Trade and economic relations between
Bulgaria and Armenia lag behind the level of active political
dialogue between the two countries and efforts should be made for
their activation. This is the opinion of both Bulgarian and Armenian
Presidents Georgi Purvanov and Serzh Sargsyan, who opened a joint
business forum here on Thursday [ 11 December]. The event has been
organized within the frames of Sargsyan’s official visit to Bulgaria.
Among the prerequisites to further develop economic relations
President Purvanov pointed out the historical proximity between the
two nations, the active political dialogue and the contractual and
legal basis. He however underlined the negative effect of the bad
transport connections. At the same time he voiced hope that the land
connection issue between Bulgaria and Armenia would be solved in
case of a successful outcome of the Armenian-Turkish negotiations
concerning opening of their mutual border closed because of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The Bulgarian President also said he hoped ideas about trade
diversification would emerge at the form, as the current trade
structure is rather modest. The Bulgarian side could deliver a wide
range of products valued at international markets in the field of
machine building, electrical engineering, pharmacy, cosmetics and
perfumes, clothing, foods. Other fields of cooperation could be
tourism and energy, Purvanov added.
President Sargsyan outlined also energy, including nuclear, among
the possible areas of cooperation. Armenia has a potential to supply
cheap electricity and natural gas, he added.
According to the Armenian President, the European Union is among the
most important economic partners of his country and the conclusion
of a free trade agreement with the EU will additionally boost the
Bulgarian-Armenian economic relations.
The businesses present pointed out that besides the transport issue,
the difficulties for enhancing economic relations also include
administrative problems such as transit taxes, insurance of goods,
quicker crossing of border zones.
Before leaving for home, President Sargsyan attended the opening of
an exhibition of eminent Armenian film director and artist Sergei
Paradjanov at the National Gallery for Foreign Art, accompanied by
his host