Tension Over Pm’s Yerevan Trip

TENSION OVER PM’S YEREVAN TRIP

The Armenian media reported that the visit of Georgia’s PM Bidzina
Ivanishvili to Armenia on January 17 was accompanied with a certain
degree of tension between the two countries.

ArmeniaNow, a Yerevan -based internet magazine reported on January
17 that “Armenian analysts expect no immediate answers to be given
during Ivanishvili’s Yerevan visit, to issues that have been on the
agenda of Armenian-Georgian relations for years.”

Armenia highlighted that in recent months, Foreign Minister of Georgia
Maia Panjikidze and Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, the
leader of the Orthodox Church in Georgia, reportedly made controversial
comments regarding the regulation of the Karabakh conflict, mainly
expressing support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in its
dispute with Armenia. These comments provoked critical statements by
some in the media and politicians both in Armenia and Georgia.

MP Ivanishvili and his delegation were met by the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and other Armenian officials at the Yerevan Airport.

Ivanishvili held meetings with Sargsyan later as well as with his
Armenian counterpart Tigran Sargsyan; Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II and Armenian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and
Natural Resources and Economy.

Ivanishvili stated during the meeting that Georgia supports the
peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict and explained that
Panjikidze’s word’s was “distorted” by the media. “Both sides
[Azerbaijan and Armenia] must use all efforts for the peaceful end
to the conflict,” Ivanishvili said in Yerevan.

Within the framework of his tour, Ivanishvili visited the Genocide
Memorial Tsitsernakaberd and Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient
Manuscripts – Matenadaran.

By Nino Edilashvili 17.01.2013

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress