Armenia, Georgia focus on boosting friendly relations in 2008

YEREVAN, January 22. /ARKA/. Boosting friendly relations was the core of Armenia-Georgia cooperation in 2008, the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in its annual report.

Throughout 2008, Armenia and Georgia focused on implementation of joint programs, as well as improvement of the social and economic situation of the Armenian community in Georgia, the document says.

The RA Foreign Ministry pays special attention to the impact of the South Ossetian conflict on the region. “The bloody events affected Armenia’s economy, with the railway linking Armenia and Georgia staying idle for a long time and stopping the shipment of essential goods to Armenia through Georgia,” the report says.

According to the document, the Armenian government had to make tremendous efforts to revive the economy.

The RA Foreign Ministry also touches upon top-level meetings between Armenian and Georgian officials and RA President Serge Sargsyan’s three-day visit to Georgia in early October 2008. During the meeting, the Armenian and Georgian leaders agreed on construction of an alternative route and, across-the-border cooperation, as well as simplification of order crossing procedures between the two neighbor countries.

Last year, the Armenian president was awarded with the Highest Order of Georgia.

The document also touches upon RA Prime Minister’s visit to Georgia on December 9 to participate in the seventh joint meeting of the intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation. The meeting aimed at boosting bilateral partnership, the RA Foreign Ministry says.

On September 12, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan paid a two-day official visit to Georgia.

The Georgian government’s support to local Armenian schools throughout 2008 and training courses for Armenian teachers are also included in the report. Z. Sh. –0--