ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF ARMENIA AND KAZAKHSTAN COINCIDE
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
09/11/2006
Kazakhstan Imports Goods That Armenia Exports
Kazakhstan is a multiethnic country, and the Armenian community
plays a unique role in that culture. Head of the community, Artyusha
Karapetian, is included in the Association of Peoples of Kazakhstan
affiliated to the country’s president.
On the second day of his official visit to Kazakhstan Armenian
president Robert Kocharian met our countrymen and told about
the results of his meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan
Nazarbaev. He said the last bilateral meeting took place in Armenia
in 2001.
Though the leaders of both states occasionally get in touch at the
CIS summits, there are still obstacles preventing development of
relations. Meanwhile, in Armenian president’s words, economic interests
of the two states coincide, which means Kazakhstan imports goods
that Armenia exports and vice versa. The main problem is connected
with goods transportation that will hopefully be settled thanks to an
agreement on automobile transportation of goods signed by the leaders
of the states.
Robert Kocharian underscored the necessity to attract Kazakh capital
to Armenia.
After the meeting with community representatives, the Armenian
president headed for Kazakh president’s cultural center and then laid
a wreath to the monument of defenders of the motherland.
The last even in the visit agenda was the business forum with
the participation of the presidents and Armenian and Kazakh
businessmen. Once again the presidents highlighted economic
cooperation.
The Kazakh president emphasized that the Armenian economy is
one of the most liberal ones in the world, which opens doors for
investments. Kazakhstan as well as Armenia is rapidly developing. The
country’s GDP has increased 3.5 times as against that of 1997.
Currency reserves amount to $25 billion, all debts from international
economic organizations were liquidated. In Nazarbaev’s words,
living standards in Kazakhstan are the highest in CIS. In regards to
Armenia, he said that despite the blockade Armenia is developing with
astonishing pace.