Tuesday, October 15 2019 15:47

ArmInfo.The consistent development of the Armenian-Georgian relations should be free from any factor of external influence. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol  Pashinyan following the results of negotiations with his Georgian  counterpart Georgy Gakharia announced this on October 15.

According to Pashinyan, from the first day he took up the post of  Prime Minister, relations between Armenia and Georgia began to  develop with special warmth and sincerity. All this, as the Prime  Minister pointed out, fits into the framework of the logic according  to which relations with neighboring Georgia are of particular  importance for Armenia. " It's no coincidence that my first visit as  head of government was made to Georgia. Your visit, Mr. Gakharia also  says that you attach particular importance to relations with  Armenia," the head of the Cabinet noted.  Giorgi Gakharia According  to Pashinyan, he assesses the past negotiations with a colleague from  Georgia as important and productive. During the meeting of the heads  of government of the two countries, according to the Armenian Prime  Minister, the parties noted a high level of political dialogue and  readiness for their further expansion.

So, according to Pashinyan, almost the whole range of bilateral  relations was discussed with the Prime Minister of Georgia. "Our  bilateral agenda is so vast that it is impossible to cover all its  aspects in one meeting," Pashinyan emphasized. The sides stressed the  importance of resuming the work of the Armenian- Georgian  intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, as  well as holding joint business forums.

The parties expressed confidence that in the short term it will be  possible to implement the agreements reached within the 10th meeting  of the commission. The importance of implementing joint transport and  energy projects was also noted, both in terms of strengthening  bilateral cooperation and ensuring regional security. The  interlocutors noted the importance of preserving the cultural  heritage of countries.

The parties also touched upon regional conflicts. According to  Pashinyan, they stated that a comprehensive and long-term resolution  of regional conflicts is possible exclusively by peaceful means and  on the basis of the principles of international law. Armenia, as the  head of the Armenian cabinet pointed out, once again confirmed its  position that each conflict is unique and, therefore, its resolution  should flow from the essence of the conflict. In this context,  according to Pashinyan, the importance of maintaining a balanced in  issues sensitive for both sides was noted. "I am convinced that your  visit, Mr. Gahariya, will contribute to further deepening the  multisphere cooperation between Armenia and Georgia, and together we  will maintain the recorded positive dynamics," Nikol Pashinyan  concluded.

Recall that on June 27, 2019, after an 8-year break in Yerevan, a  meeting of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on  trade and economic cooperation started, and on June 28, the Armenian-  Georgian business forum was held in Dilijan. The corresponding  agreement was reached on May 3 of  this year during regular political  consultations between the foreign ministries of Armenia and Georgia.  Experts from two sides repeatedly spoke about the need for a meeting.

The issue became more acute after September 2018, when that time  Georgian prime minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, during a meeting with his  Armenian counterpart, made a very ambitious proposal to the Armenian  side - to bring trade to a billion dollars (from $ 240.1 million in  2017).

It should be noted that, according to the RA Statistical Committee,  the foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Georgia in 2018  amounted to $ 138.9 million, with a y-o-y decline of 42.4%. At the  same time, exports amounted to $ 68.7 million with a y-o-y decline of  55.1%, imports - $ 70.1 million, a decline of 20.4%. Between January  and August 2019, trade between the countries reached $ 91.9 million,  with an increase of 5.1%. At the same time, Armenian exports grew by  16.4% to $ 45.9 million, while imports fell by 4.3% to $ 46 million.  According to data for January-March 2019, the net inflow of  investments from Georgia to the real sector of the Armenian economy  amounted to $ 1.6 million, including the gross inflow of FDI amounted  to $ 3 million. According to the information of the state register of  legal entities in Armenia, as of April 1, 2019, 342 companies with  Georgian capital were registered in the RA.