ON JUNE 20-21, THE RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN-HEADED GOVERNMENT DELEGATION WAS AWAY TO NKR CAPITAL STEPANAKERT ON A WORKING VISIT
Monday , 22 June 2009
On June 20-21, the RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan-headed government
delegation was away to NKR capital Stepanakert on a working visit. Set
to attend "Bridge-Artsakh" economic forum, the delegation comprised
Chief of Government Staff David Sargsyan, Minister of Finance
Tigran Davtyan, Minister of Economy Nerces Yeritzyan, Minister of
Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan, Minister of Urban Development Vardan
Vardanyan, Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan,
other officials.
First, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan had private talks with NKR
President Bako Sahakyan. Then he took part in "Bridge-Artsakh"
economic forum, hosted by the Armenian Union of Industrialists and
Businessmen and MASTER international integration support center.
Held under the motto: "State and Business: from dialogue to
cooperation," the forum was meant to provide a framework for Armenian
and foreign businessmen to commit themselves and invest into NKR
economy.
In his opening address, NKR President Bako Sahakyan expressed gratitude
to Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia for years-long humanitarian
assistance extended to Artsakh, and went on to emphasize that the
well-being of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population depends on ever-strengthe
ned and closer mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with
Armenia, first of all.
In turn, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the large
number of businessmen among forum participants considering that this
may promote the emergence of a new business environment. Agriculture,
mining and processing industry, power engineering, tourism were cited
as the most perspective spheres of Artsakh’s economy. However, it
is important for entrepreneurs to get a business-wise glance at the
existing development opportunities. The government of Armenia should
do its utmost so that economy develops faster in the NKR than in the
Republic of Armenia. Living standards, too, should be higher in the
NKR as Armenian ethnic identity and the Armenian world are at stake
in Artsakh.
Later on, Tigran Sargsyan had private talks with his NKR counterpart
Araik Harutunyan. Then, government members on either side met in a
broader format at the Office of Government in Stepanakert. During
the meeting, the head of the Armenian government presented
Armenia’s current economic status and the anti-crisis action of his
government. The prime ministers exchanged views on the steps necessary
for overcoming the financial and economic crisis in Artsakh. In this
context, they noted that the two governments should first of all seek
to implement actions towards boosting economic growth and encouraging
SME development in the NKR.
The session summed up the outcome of those meetings and discussions
held in Artsakh and outlined the areas and cooperation programs ahead.
Following the session, led by the two prime ministers, government
delegations from the two States attended a gala concert in the Charles
Aznavur cultural center. The hospitable people of Karabakh entertained
them with traditional songs and dances.