Georgia-EU Agreement To Promote Armenian-Georgian Economic Ties – Ta

GEORGIA-EU AGREEMENT TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN ECONOMIC TIES – TATUL MANASERYAN

19:33 ~U 04.11.13

The initialing of an Association Agreement between Georgia and
the European Union (EU) will not affect Armenian-Georgian economic
relations, economist Tatul Manaseryan told Tert.am.

“We should consider the fact that both Armenia and Georgia are
members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which implies most
favorable conditions for further progress in Armenian-Georgian economic
relations. Besides, the Armenian-Georgian free trade agreement has
been in effect for around ten years,” he said.

Liberalization of economic relations meets both nations’ interests.

With respect to the bilateral economic cooperation in the context of
Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, Mr Manaseryan said:

“Armenia has to pass a long way before it joins the Customs Union.

However, I do not see any serious problem even after Armenia joins
the Customs Union, as Georgia is taking steps to improve its political
and economic ties with Russia. With new leaders in power in Georgia,
we hope for dynamic progress in Armenian-Georgian relations.”

As regards the newly elected President of Georgia Giorgi
Margvelashvili’s statement on Monday, political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan said that power is inherited rather than changed
in Georgia.

“I do not think anyone doubts the agreement will be initialed. Both
under Saakashvili’s presidency and now Georgia, though physically
located in our region, has for a rather long period been outside it.

They are obviously pursuing a pro-western policy, and nothing else
could be expected,” Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress