Imedi TV, Tbilisi
22 Aug 05
[Presenter] At a businesslike meeting without neckties on Lake Sevan,
the Georgian and Armenian presidents [Mikheil Saakashvili and Robert
Kocharyan] today discussed new prospects for partnership and economic
cooperation. [Passage omitted]
[Correspondent] Among the issues discussed were railways, tourism and
construction projects. There were no major surprises at the talks but
they nevertheless marked a new phase in bilateral relations.
[Kocharyan, speaking to journalists in Russian, with Saakashvili by
his side] I think the range of issues is well known. We did not invent
anything new. In principle, I believe that neighbours should always
find a pretext to meet regularly, at least several times a year, both
formally and informally.
[Saakashvili, in Georgian] The more transport links there are, the
better. For example, we want to have daily flights between Yerevan and
Batumi next summer.
Why have Armenians started to visit Georgia? Because there are no
longer traffic police on the roads to stop them. It means more money
for the Georgian economy and many new opportunities.
Let’s take the food processing industry. Armenia already does this
well, while Georgia is just starting to do it. Here, there are also
many banking structures that operate well. Or take, for example, the
construction industry. At present, far more residential houses are
being built in Yerevan than in Tbilisi. A construction boom is yet to
start in Tbilisi.
We have a lot of potential, a lot of potential that can be used very
well. So, there is a lot here to see, how they do things. There are
many things we can do very well. We must work on all these issues.
[Correspondent] There was one subject the two presidents treated with
caution. How will the Russian president react to their meeting?
Kocharyan was rather diplomatic in his answer to this question from
our journalist.
[Question] Friendship between the presidents of Georgia and Armenia is
essential for peace in the region. Do you think this is also the
opinion of Mr Putin, the president of Russia?
[Kocharyan] I agree that personal relations and friendship between
presidents is an important prerequisite for establishing fruitful
bilateral relations. I understand that President Putin also attaches a
lot of importance to personal relations and contacts. He and I have
developed good, friendly relations.
When I say contacts, I mean tourism, trips, friendship, business and
common interests. All this has to be built. As a rule, all this cannot
be built in a day or two. Although all this can be ruined in a day or
two. [Kocharyan and Saakashvili laugh]
[Correspondent] The informal meeting ended without too much pomp and
ceremony. The [Georgian] president and defence minister left the
residence in the second half of the day.
[Passage omitted]