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Oil & Gas Journal
July 23

Construction begins on Iran section of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, July 23 — ZAO Armrosgazprom has begun construction on the
100 km Iranian section of the $210-220 million Iran-Armenia natural
gas pipeline that will promote gas deliveries from Turkmenistan
through Iran to Armenia (OGJ, Feb. 3, 2003, p. 62). Iran is funding
its section, which is being built by an Iranian contractor, Russia’s
Interfax news agency reported Thursday.

Armrosgazprom, a consortium of Russia’s OAO Gazprom, 45%, Armenia’s
Energy Ministry 45%, and Russia’s Itera 10%, will operate the
Iran-Armenia pipeline.

Gazprom has completed a feasibility study for the Armenian section,
which will extend 41 km from the Iranian border to Kajaran, about 320
km from Yerevan in southeastern Armenia. The $140 million Armenian
section also will include rehabilitation and partial replacement of
parts of the existing Kajaran-Yerevan gas pipeline. Armenia is
seeking funding for its project, and investor proposals have not yet
been announced.

Under terms of an agreement the two nations signed in May, the 700 mm
diameter pipeline initially will deliver 1.1 billion cu m/year of
natural gas to Armenia for 20 years, increasing to 2.3 billion cu m
at the end of the contract, which could be extended by 5 years. The
gas, slated for first delivery in January 2007, will be used to fuel
Armenian power plants that will export electric power to Iran and
Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
July 22 2004

RA President gives concrete guideline via to instability of national
currency rate

Outstanding figure of Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun left this world

Armeconombank, Conversebank (Armenia), Artsakhbank and
Ardshininvestbank leading in ARKA Press Rating for Q2 2004

Robert Kocharian: RA sincerely interested in stability of Georgia

RA President highly appreciates activity of US Ambassador to RA

Armenian fiction film Sniper receives Grand Prix on Kids for Kids
International Film Festival in Athens

The Ukraine Embassy in Armenia opens a book of sorrows in regard with
the tragedy on `Coal Company `Krasnolimansk Mine’

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT GIVES CONCRETE GUIDELINE VIA TO INSTABILITY OF NATIONAL
CURRENCY RATE
YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. During today’s working meeting with the
ministers of finance and economy, trade and economic development, the
chairmen of CBA, State Custom Committee RA President Robert Kocharian
gave concrete guideline via to instability of national currency rate,
President’s press office told ARKA. The details of the meeting are
not represented.
Note today CBA increased exchange rate of USD by 3.97 AMD up to
515.99 AMD per $1. It is the first increase of exchange rate for last
several weeks. On previous week the rate was decrease in average by
1.5-2 AMD daily. For the first three days of current week the rate
decreased by 10.35 AMD, of which only yesterday – by 8.04 AMD. L.D.
-0–

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OUTSTANDING FIGURE OF ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
DASHNAKTSUTYUN LEFT THIS WORLD
YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. Outstanding figure of Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, Director of Munich Institute
of Armenian Studies Eduard Ovannisian left this world being 72 years
old, ARF (D) told ARKA All his life Ovannisian cared about past,
present and future of Armenian people. Press release notes that he
was an advanced soldier in modern fight in Diaspora for protection of
Hai Dat and became its driving force. `Loss of Eduard Ovannisian is
terrible for his party friends and by all means for all Armenian’,
press release notes.
Eduard Ovannisian was born on February 16, 1932 in Yerevan. He
graduated from Moscow Instrument Making Institute. In 1964 defended
his doctoral degree. In 1984-93 he was a director of Armenian Edition
of Radio Liberty. Ovannisian took active part in creation and edition
of The Armenian Genocide book in Munich. In 2003 he issued a book
called Hai Dat Problems and the Ways of Their Settlement. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

ARMECONOMBANK, CONVERSEBANK (ARMENIA), ARTSAKHBANK AND
ARDSHININVESTBANK LEADING IN ARKA PRESS RATING FOR Q2 2004

YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency published Press Rating of
Armenian banks for Q2 2004. The leaders of ARKA’s Press-Rating for
the II Q, 2004 are 4 banks 1. Armeconombank, 2. Conversebank, 3.
Artsakhbank, 4. Ardshininvestbank. As the analysis of press signals
showed, Q2 appeared to be more active from the point of banking pres
information as a result of which the number of press signals
increased by 6.9%, while the Total Index (TI), characterizing the
number of information depending of its address increased by 4.3%. At
that there can be observed a stable tendency of reduction of negative
press signals, the weight share of which versus the previous Q
reduced from 7.5% to 3.7%.
In the structure of the overall information for Q2 2004 versus the
last Q, the share of information for the sections `General on Banks’
and `Banking Activities in Figures’ increased in the total volume of
information about the banks for the 2nd Q, 2004 from 27.4% to 32.5%
and from 37.6% to 41.6% correspondingly, as compared to the same
period of 2003. Meanwhile, information entries for the other sections
reduced. Thus, the share of information for the section `Bank
Development Policy’reduced to 18.9% versus 23.8% in the 1st Q, 2004,
for `Clients and Service’ – to 2.2% versus 3.6%, for `Bank’s Economic
Forecasts and Opinions’ – to 4.8% versus 7.7%. According to the
analysis of the structure of the total information of banks, the
share of negative press releases reduced from 7.5% to 3.7% as
compared to last Q.
In the 2st Q, 2004 the highest index for information entries was for
the section `General on Banks’ for Ardshininvestbank. Armeconombank
became a leader in sharing information for `Bank Development Policy’
and Banking Activities in Figures. Conversebank and Armenian
Development Bank were most active in sharing information for `Clients
and Service’. At that, the most active in making prognosis of the
economic development were Conversebank, HSBC Bank Armenia and
Armsavingsbank.
To remind the leaders of ARKA Press Rating for Q1 2004 were the
following banks: 1. Armeconombank, 2. Conversebank, 3. Bank Anelik,
4. Ardshininvestbank, 5. Armsavingsbank, and 6. HSBC Bank Armenia.
The ARKA Press rating is calculated not based on fianncial -economic
indicators, but the facts of actual activity of the banks which are
reported thru mass media. As a result, the higher the level of actual
information on the bank’s activity, the more efficient is its policy.
When composing the Press rating, the information of advertising type
was not subject of study and analysis.
Please see more detailed information in Banking Information Bulletin
#03 (22) for Q2 2004.T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: RA SINCERELY INTERESTED IN STABILITY OF GEORGIA

YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. `RA is sincerely interested in stability of
Georgia’, RA President Robert Kocharian said during his meeting with
the Salome Zurabishvili, Georgian Foreign Minister who is visiting
RA. As RA President’s Press Service told ARKA, Robert Kocharian
expressed his satisfaction that the relations of RA and Georgia are
on high level and are based on centuries old trust and friendship
among the peoples of two countries. Mentioning that Georgia currently
lives quite hard times, the President expressed confidence that the
Georgian authorities would be able to overcome the difficulties
rapidly. During the meeting the sides touched upon the key issues
concerning Armenian-Georgian relations and perspectives of the
region.
In words of officials, the current level of mutual economic relations
does not correspond to the real capacities of two countries.
Kocharian attached importance to more active work of
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. Kocharian and
Zurabishvili stressed that inclusion of the South Caucasus countries
into EU Neighborhood creates large possibilities for the cooperation.
T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT HIGHLY APPRECIATES ACTIVITY OF US AMBASSADOR TO RA

YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received
today Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to RA
H.E. John Ordway who completed his diplomatic mission in the country.
As RA President’s Press Service told ARKA, the Head of the Armenian
State highly appreciated the activity of the activity of the US
Ambassador aimed at deepening of the Armenian-US relations.
The Ambassador in his turn expressed his gratitude to the RA
President for his support during his diplomatic work.
During the meeting the sides discussed the reforms that are being
implemented in RA and the related support of the US Government.
John Ordway was appointed US Ambassador to RA in 2001. He will
continue his diplomatic mission as US Ambassador to Kazakhstan. US
President George Bush offered appointing as new US Ambassador to RA
John Marshall Evans, the Head of US Department of State on Russian
Affairs. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN FICTION FILM SNIPER RECEIVES GRAND PRIX ON KIDS FOR KIDS
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN ATHENS

YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. Armenian fiction film Sniper received Grand
Prix on Kids for Kids International Film Festival in Athens, as Nune
Manukyan, Chairman of Rolan Bykov Armenian Foundation. In his words,
Grand Prix in Animation, fiction, documentary and sportive films
created by the kids in the age from 6 to 12 years was handled to
authors of Sniper – Hovnan Bagghdasaryan (8) and VArdan Arshakuni
(10), representing educational-cultural center Manana. Manukyan
mentioned that the members of the jury of the Festival were
thunderstruck by the flight of mind of the authors of Sniper, that
were able to create in the film an atmosphere of permanent
expectation. She also said that in nomination `art and documentation’
in 13-16 age category film Grandmother of an inmate of the same
center Nane Sahakyan was ranked among six best films. The Chairman of
Rolan Bykov Armenian Center mentioned that 44 states were
participating in the festival and only 22 films were selected.
In her turn Ruzanna Baghdasaryan, Director of Center Manana told that
that this was the third success of Sniper in international festivals.
In her words, in March and July 2004 the film won on festivals in
Tampere, Finland and Sheffield, UK. She also added that the film was
shot with the support of UNIFEM – UN Development Fund for Women. As a
whole, she mentioned that the inmates of the center were awarded many
times on various international festivals (Italy, Holland, Germany,
Spain, US) and their films were shown TV companies of more than 20
nations. She also mentioned that lack of technical means of the
Center do not allow bringing to life many ideas and scenarios of the
kids. In her words, for this reason the films shot by the inmates of
the Center do not exceed 1 – 1.5 minutes.
Kids for Kids International Festival was held in Athens on 18-21
June. The festival was organized by ECFA – European Children’s Film
Association and CIFEJ – International Center of Films for Children
and Young People. The jury consisted of representatives from Armenia,
Iran, Serbia, England, Sweden, Australia, Denmark and Canada. T.M.
-0–

*********************************************************************

THE UKRAINE EMBASSY IN ARMENIA OPENS A BOOK OF SORROWS IN REGARD WITH
THE TRAGEDY ON `COAL COMPANY `KRASNOLIMANSK MINE’

YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. In regard with the accident on `Coal
Company `Krasnolimansk Mine’ (Donetsk region), which happened on July
19,2004 and as a result of which some miners died, the President of
the Ukraine declared July 21-22 as mourning days in the Ukraine. As
ARKA was informed in the press service department of the Ukraine
Embassy in Armenia, a book of sorrows is opened in the Ukraine
Embassy in Armenia on July 22, where everybody can write his
condolences regarding the tragedy.
To remind, an explosion of methane happened 997 meters under the
ground on July 19 at about 7:55 p.m. by the local time. The explosion
was followed by fire. At that time 48 miners were underground. 12 of
them managed to get out of the mine by themselves, and the bodies of
31 dead miners were taken out of the mine, 20 of which were
identified. Five miners are missing. A.H.–0–
*******************************************

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian NGOs recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity

Trend news agency
23 Jul 04

Baku, 23 July: Twenty-three Armenian NGOs recognize the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia and have therefore been elected
members of the Confederation of Nongovernmental Organizations of the
Caucasus (CNGOC), the chairman of the board of the CNGOC, Sahriyar
Rasulov, said today, Trend reports.

He said that the confederation was set up two years ago and comprises
272 NGOs, of which 203 are Azerbaijani, 23 Armenian and the rest
Georgian.

Rasulov added that the confederation could be joined by organizations
which recognize and respect the territorial integrity of regional
states on the basis of international legal norms. Of many Armenian
NGOs which applied for membership of the organization, 23 accepted
these conditions and were therefore admitted to the CNGOC.

[Passage omitted: minor details about the structure of the CNGOC]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Federal News Service, Inc.
FNS DAYBOOK
July 23, 2004 Friday

EVENT: DISCUSSION – CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
(CSIS)

SUBJECT: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) holds
a discussion, “Armenia’s Opposition: The Next Steps.”

LOCATION: CSIS, B-1 Conference Level, 1800 K Street NW, Washington,
D.C. — July 23, 2004

PARTICIPANTS: Stepan Demirchian, Armenian People’s Party

CONTACT: Mark Schoeff Jr., 202-775-3242; e-mail, [email protected];

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INVESTMENT PROGRAM OF ARMROSGAZPROM CJSC FOR 2004 FOR 6.76 BLN AMD APPROVED

YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. The Commission for Regulation of Public
Service of Armenia approved today an investment program of
ArmRosgazprom CJSC for 2004. The program costs 6.76 bln AMD (VAT
exclusive).

Presenting the program, Chairman of the Board, General Director of
ArmRosgazprom CJSC Karen Karapetyan said that the main share of the
investments (5.1 bln AMD) is provided for extension of gas
distribution network and connection of new users. 462.4 mln AMD will
be directed to repair and modernization of the gas distribution
network and to reduction of losses in the network (350 mln AMD). 372.8
mln AMD will be allocated for repair and technical equipment of gas
transmission network and other expenses. Natural gas supply volumes
are planned to be increased by 100 mln cubic meters in 2004 as
compared with the indicators of 2003, and the loss will be reduced by
11 mln cubic meters. By July 1. 2004, 670 mln cubic meters of natural
gas were supplied to Armenia, the indicator will be increased to 1.3
bln cubic meters by the end of the year. At present, ArmRosgazprom
CJSC has 212,000 real and 400 potential gas users. By July 1, 2004,
under the investment program, 2 bln AMD were used exclusively from the
company’s incomes.

No rise in the gas tariff is planned for this and the next year. In
Dec, 2004, an investment program for 2005-2007 of the company is to be
submitted to the Commission for Regulation of Public
Service. According to preliminary estimations, the program will total
34.5 bln AMD, VAT exclusive.

The ArmRosgazprom CJSC was founded in 1998. By 45% of the company’s
shares belong to the Armenian Government and Gazprom OJSC, 10% to the
ITERA International Energy Corporation. It is for already one year,
Gazprom is the monopolist in the sphere of gas supply to Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Drug Week
Medicine & Law Weekly
July 23, 2004

ALZHEIMER DISEASE;
Polypeptide protects brain neurons in aluminum neurotoxicosis

Hypothalamic proline-rich polypeptide protects brain neurons in
aluminum neurotoxicosis.

According to recent research from Armenia, “The damaging effect of
aluminum ions (Al) on the organism is widely investigated in clinics
and experiments that indicate its role as a participant in the
synthesis of precursors for amyloid proteins and as a potential agent
in the etiology of Alzheimer disease.

It has been shown that aluminum produces neurotoxic effects. We
established that AlCl produces degenerative changes in the
ultrastructure of Hasserian neurinoma cells in vitro and in L-929
fibroblast cells.”

“Proline-rich peptide-1 (PRP-1) isolated from neurosecretory granules
of bovine neurohypophysis is a potent antineurodegenerative agent
against spinal cord hemisection and crush syndrome-induced
neurodegeneration of brain and spinal cord neurons,” reported A. A.
Galoyan and colleagues at the M. Heratsi State Medical University in
Armenia and the Russian Academy of Sciences. “PRP-1 is one of the
neurotrophic brain factors. By electron microscopic study of the rat
hippocampus and other tissues, we succeeded in visualizing the
epithelioprotectory effect of PRP-1, contributing as a powerful agent
in removal of aluminum accumulation in different tissues in
experimental aluminum neurotoxicosis.”

Galoyan and associates published their study in Neurochemical
Research (Hypothalamic proline-rich polypeptide protects brain
neurons in aluminum neurotoxicosis. Neurochem Res,
2004;29(7):1349-1357).

For additional information, contact A. A. Galoyan, H. Buniatian
Institute of Biochemistry, Sevag Str, Yerevan 375014, Armenia.
E-mail: [email protected].

Publisher contact information for the journal Neurochemical Research
is: Kluwer Academic, Plenum Publishing, 233 Spring Street, New York,
NY 10013, USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas
of Alzheimer Disease, Neurodegeneration, Neuroscience, Neurotoxin,
Neurology, and Proteomics.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

1,250,000 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN 679 ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES IN FIRST
HALF OF 2004

YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. A total of 1,250,000 ownership certificates
were issued in 679 Armenian communities in the first half of
2004. 956,000 of them were issued free of charge due to budgetary
funds, Head of the RA Registry of Immovable Property, RA Government,
Manuk Vardanyan told a press conference.

He reported that in the first half of 2004 the Registry also
transferred public land-plots to Armenia’s communities. Specifically,
in 847 communities the ownership of public lands was transferred to
communities. “The RA Government has been informed of 309 communities
where the ownership of about 280,000 hectares of land was transferred
to communities,” Vardanyan said. Speaking of the goals of this work,
he pointed out that the sums accumulated from land lease will thus be
directed to communities’ budgets. Also, communities will act as full
members of the real estate market enjoying ownership right.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2,799 FLATS SOLD IN ARMENIA’s REGIONS IN FIRST HALF OF 2004

YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. A total of 2,799 flats were sold in
Armenia’s regions in the first half of 2004, a 35.5% increase as
against the first half of 2003, and a 2.3% increase as against the
second half of 2003, the RA State Registry of Immovable Property
reported.

A 7.4% increase in prices for housing was recorded in Armenia’s
regional centers during the period under review. In the first half of
2004, the average price of 1sq. meter in Ashtarak was 63.2 USD, in
Artashat 55.5%, in Echmiadzin 86 USD, in Gavar 31.9%, in Vanadzor
62.2%, in Abovyan 86.2%, in Hrazdan 33.8 USD, in Tsakhkadzor 76.6%, in
Yeghvard 42.7 USD, in Nor Achn 55.9 USD, in Gyumri 72.2 USD, in Goris
32 USD, in Vaik 35 USD, in Jermuk 41 USD, in Ijevan 42.3 USD,

in Dilijan 36.7 USD.

A total of 2,362 purchase-and-sale deals with private houses were
recorded in the first half of 2004, a 66.3% increase as against the
corresponding period of last year. The average price of 1sq. meter of
housing in private houses increased by 31.9% from the first half of
2003 to the first half of 2004. In the first half of 2004, the average
price of 1sq. meter of housing in private houses ion Ashtarak was 83.5
USD, in Artashat 62 USD, in Echmiadzin 90 USD, in Gavar 39.9 USD, in
Vanadzor 69.4 USD, in Abovyan 92.9 USD, in Hrazdan 40.4 USD, in
Tsakhkadzor 86 USD, in Yeghvard 47.5 USD, in Nor Achn 56.7 USD, in
Gyumri 91.3 USD, in Goris 33.3 USD, in Vaik 37 USD, in Jermuk 43.4
USD, in Ijevan 42.9 USD, in Dilijan 39.4 USD.

The highest rise in the number of deals was recorded in the Kotayk
region, 10.5%. In Shirak, Ararat and Lori, 10.2%, 9.7% and 8.4%
respectively. The lowest number of deals was recorded in Vaiots Dzor,
1.5%.

PRESS RELEASE

July 22, 2004

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

Water Safety in Armenia

Yerevan – The Environmental Conservation and Research Center of the American
University of Armenia and the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network, Yerevan
Office hosted a free Environmental Panel Discussion on July 14, 2004,
focusing on Water Safety and Water Supply in Armenia.

Based upon the Yerevan Water Company’s findings, there were only about 30
violations for bacterial contamination among the more than 10,000 samples
taken last year. Panelists included Dr. Vladimir Davidyants, Chief Sanitary
Doctor of the Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Health, Mr. Richard Walkling,
Chief Executive Officer, Yervodokanal (Yerevan Canal Company), Mr. Eduard
Mesropyan, Director, JINJ Environmental Consulting, and Dr. Charles Dunlap,
Director, Environmental Conservation and Research Center, American
University of Armenia. They raised some concern that these samples may not
fully represent the quality of water that many people are drinking because
the samples were not taken in the upper floors of buildings. However, it
was noted that if the low levels of bacterial contamination in Yerevan are
correct, this represents a dramatic improvement in the 15% contamination
rate measured by AUA in 1995.

`Although Yerevan appears to have safer water than it did seven years ago,
Ministry of Health data continue to show a 20-30% rate of bacterial
contamination in Armenia’s rural water supplies,’ stated Dr. Charles Dunlap,
Director of AUA’s Environmental Conservation and Research Center. The
panel discussion led to a commitment on improving public information on
water testing carried out by the Ministry of Health and the Yerevan Water
Company. The Ministry of Health committed to establishing a web site where
findings could be publicly available, and the Yerevan Water Company also
agreed to disseminate its data upon request.

AUA’s Environmental Research and Conservation Center has an ongoing interest
in the conservation of Armenia’s surface water quality and research into
health threats from drinking water contamination. In 2002, the Center
designed and specified the equipment and procedures for a $500,000 water
quality laboratory being built by USAID in the Ministry of Nature
Protection. In 2003, the Center constructed a scientific research laboratory
at AUA dedicated to water quality analysis. The lab is currently supporting
a project to independently assess the safety of Yerevan drinking water
samples collected from homes throughout Yerevan.

The Environmental Conservation and Research Center conducts research into
conservation, ecology, environmental contamination, and sustainable
development in the Republic of Armenia, and serves the community through
education outreach programs and collaboration with local scientists and
organizations. ECRC is funded by the generous support of Mr. Sarkis Acopian.

AUA is registered as a non-profit educational organization in both Armenia
and the United States and is affiliated with the Regents of the University
of California. Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers
instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For
more information about AUA, visit or For more
information about the AUA Environmental Conservation and Research Center
visit

Picture: At AUA, environmental experts and health officials discuss Armenia
‘s water quality and safety.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 22 2004

Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Two Day Official Visit to Yerevan

By Gevorg Stamboltsian and Armen Zakarian 23/07/2004 01:49

Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili completed her first-
ever official visit to Armenia on 22 July.

During the visit, Zourabichvili held meetings with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian and her Armenian counterpart Vartan
Oskanian.

Bilateral relations and important regional issues were high on the
agenda.

During the meeting with Zourabichvili, President Kocharian expressed
satisfaction with the “high level of inter-state relations with
Georgia, which are based on mutual trust and cooperation.” Kocharian
noted that Georgia is going through a rather hard time, but he
expressed the hope that “the Georgian authorities will soon overcome
these difficulties.”

“We are highly interested in stability in Georgia,” Kocharian said.

“The visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia and
meetings at a high level will give a new context to issues on the
Armenian-Georgian agenda,” Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said on
21 July during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart.

“The parties noted a high potential for mutually advantageous
cooperation in the matter of deepening interaction with European and
Euro-Atlantic structures, namely, with EU and NATO,” according to the
press-service of Armenian Foreign Ministry. “The countries have great
opportunities after the South Caucasian countries have been included
in the [European Union’s] New Neighborhood initiative.”

During his meeting with Zourabichvili, Oskanian emphasized the
importance of developing both North-South and East-West highways and
transport corridors. The two ministers exchanged opinions on the
resumption of traffic on all railways in the region, namely,
Kars-Giumri-Tbilisi and the Abkhaz section of the railway linking
Russia and Armenia via Georgia. The two ministers also discussed
regional electricity supplies, cooperation with Iran, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts
and how they could be resolved.

On 21 July, Salome Zourabichvili laid wreaths at the Memorial to
victims of the Armenian genocide. She also held a meeting with
representatives of the Georgian Diaspora and visited the Parajanov
museum.

“There are never concrete results from one visit, but it is a process
that we are starting. We are determined to increase our economic
relations,” Zourabichvili told journalists before boarding the
airplane for Tbilisi in Zvartnots airport.

“Political relations are very good, but we have to deepen them, and
especially we have to appear in front of Europeans,” Zourabichvili
continued. “We have to appear as one region, speaking as much as
possible with one voice.”

Asked by RFE/RL whether the key to reopening the Abkhazian section of
the Russia-Georgia-Armenia railway lies in Russia or in Georgia,
Zourabichvili answered “There is a small key here too.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress