Armenia, Syria Seek To Promote Economic Cooperation

ARMENIA, SYRIA SEEK TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
07.09.2009 17:29

The fifth Armenian-Syrian trade-economic forum kicked off in Yerevan
today.

The forum aims to promote the economic cooperation between the two
countries. President of the joint Armenian-Syrian Commission Levon
Zacki hopes that the two countries will cooperate not only in the
fields of import and export, but also the banking sphere.

Although the commodity turnover between Armenia and Syria has
considerably grown over the past years, it still remains too low. The
parties are trying to increase the volume of commodity turnover,
which currently reaches $6 mln annually.

According to RA Deputy Minister of Economy Garnik Badalyan, the
commodity turnover between Armenia and Syria is low, and this has
objective reasons.

The primary obstacle is the problem of roads.

"There is a political consensus, there a centuries-old friendship
between the two peoples. Therefore, practical steps should be taken,"
he said.

A number of documents are expected to be signed after the sitting of
the Joint Armenian-Syrian Commission.