MosJan Posted December 28, 2001 Report Share Posted December 28, 2001 http://www.azg.am/IMAGE/200124001.jpg ALL PROMISING REASONS IN PLACE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No serious man can deny that Armenia is saying farewell to the outgoing year, having achieved definite progress. No one, even most wicked, could insist, that Armenia was isolated from the external world in 2002. Not a previous year saw such live foreign relations, reciprocal visits. No one dared, especially after the September 11 attacks on the USA, to mock Armenia’s “complementary foreign policy. We need this very kind of foreign policy under the current global developments, marked with bitter stand off between various forces. No one could insist, except several madmen, that they could pursue a more wise policy in the issue of regulation of the Karabagh conflict. International mediation efforts once again faced Azerbaijani president’s unyielding stance and Yerevan’s position today is more advantageous. Official recognition of the Armenian genocide by France, Italy and Vatican came to disperse those allegations that inclusion of the genocide issue on the foreign policy agenda was wrong. Even the official Washington was shocked by the successive recognition of the Armenian genocide, and its efforts to prevent it by creation of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) also failed. No wonders occurred in the economy and we could not avoid painful setbacks, but there are several brilliant examples of resumption of leading enterprises, a noticeable advancement was also reported in the areas of tourism development and creation of new jobs. And though the volumes are not as big as to have resulted in tangible improvement of living conditions of the majority of the people, but one can say for sure that a new layer of the society has entered into prosperity and the number of rich people has grown. The earthquake zone received much more investments in the last two years than in previous nine. However, these positive trends in the economy are still far from being satisfactory, we are still far from giving solutions to many social-economic problems and stopping mass out-emigration. But we believe that Armenia would be able to get out of poverty provided that the political stability is maintained, that state management becomes more flexible and especially the court begin acting fairly to stop corruption. The outgoing year, along with its gains and positive promises becomes more exigent in our expectations for the coming year. And each mistake of the government or the political forces will make us more uncompromising. We are going to see the New Year in realizing these key demands. We have no other alternative. © Copyright AZG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted December 28, 2001 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2001 NEW PAGE IN ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS OPENS, PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN SAYS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Armenian president Robert Kocharian praised Iranian top officials or their "desire to conduct negotiations with the visiting Armenian delegation as efficient as possible." Speaking to reporters today upon his return from a three-day official visit to Iran, Kocharian said the Armenian delegation received a very warm welcome. Kocharian said the biggest portion of talks was devoted to economic issues, which referred to construction of Kajaran tunnel, which would provide the shortest route between Iran and Armenia and Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Kocharian also stressed an agreement on reciprocal recognition of diplomas, which will allow Armenian universities to admit hundreds of Iranian students. Kocharian said that the construction of the gas pipeline would require a huge amount of preparatory work, concerning the technical characteristics of the project. Kocharian said Armenia is pursuing its energy security by pressing for construction of the pipeline. Kocharian also said that a fundamental agreement was reached on softening trade regime between Iran and Armenia, which would be reflected in a document, setting precise quotas for Armenian exports to Iran. He said that Iran was attempting to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), which means that similar trade regimes will be operating in Iran and Armenia. "This will make Armenian-Iranian trade relations mutually beneficial," Kocharian said. "I believe that the visit has opened a new page in our relations with Iran, in the first place, with regard to attracting more Iranian investments in Armenia," he said. Kocharian also praised the Armenian community in Iran, saying it enjoys high respect among both the authorities and population. Meantime Iran's President Seyed Mohammad Khatami was quoted by Iranian IRNA news agency as saying that Iran-Armenia cooperation is not harmful to anyone and that it may as well be realized if it would be aimed at the benefits of both countries as well as regional peace and stability. Speaking to a joint news conference President Khatami told reporters, "We believe that the regional countries may establish security, peace and stability through cooperation among one another without the interference of foreigners." He added that the existing historical and cultural commonalties between Iran and Armenia and their location at a strategic region calls for the expansion mutual cooperation. He stressed, "Iran and Armenia are both faced with two issues, namely democracy and people's participation in their fate as well as making up for their backwardness and attempts directed towards progress in various economic, scientific, technical and humane fields. "For his part Robert Kocharian said "The signed documents cover various aspects of mutual ties between the two countries including political, economic, scientific and cultural issues." Referring to the fact that the Caucasus region has constantly been of special significance to the world superpowers and that currently each of the ex-Soviet Union's independent states attempt to defend their independence and sovereignty, he hoped that the expansion of regional states' inter-relations will further strengthen their independence. Kocharian underlined, "We believe that the regional issues should e solved by the states of the region." He added, "We attempt to secure our regional interests by extending fruitful relations rather than resorting to conflicts." © Copyright AZG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted December 28, 2001 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2001 GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNPLAYS ARMENIA'S CONCERNSThe charges leveled at Georgia by certain Armenian political figures, who allege that Marneuli airport is preparing to receive Turkish air force planes, are absurd, Georgian foreign minister Irakli Menagharishvili was quoted by Moscow-based Interfax news agency December, 26. There are only evil intentions behind such rumors, he said. Georgia will never be involved in activities against its neighbors, in particular Armenia, or be a source of danger to them, Menagharishvili said. The tense situation in the Caucasus may indeed evoke suspicions, but Georgia will always abide by neighborly principles, he said. The issue of military cooperation between Georgia and Turkey was raised when Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian visited Tbilisi last autumn. Georgian officials told Sarkisian that Georgia would never act against Armenia, he said. Turkish engineers have shared in the overhaul of the airstrip, Levan Mamaladze, governor of the Kvemo Kartli region where it is located, told Interfax. The airstrip can receive Turkish and other planes that will share in antiterrorist activities "not only in Afghanistan", he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.