Would Armenia become a regional center?

[MJ]

Noyan Tapan News Agency http://www.noyan-tapan.am/

 

ARMENIA HAS GOOD CHANCES TO BECOME THE REGION'S CENTER:

TIMOTHY JONES

 

YEREVAN, March 26 (Noyan Tapan). A British Week began in

Armenia on March 22. Various cultural events, fashion shows,

meetings of commercial representatives were held within the

framework of the Week. A British delegation led by Lord

MacCluskey was on a visit to Armenia. The British Week in

Armenia is organized by the British Embassy.

 

A press conference of the British delegation members was

held on March 24. The press conference covered prospects of

further developing bilateral relations and issues concerning the

current situation in the region. Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Armenia Mr. Timothy

Jones also participated in the press conference.

 

Ambassador Jones announced that the Week of cultural events

was held under the banner of "Cutting Edges". Incidentally, the

expression has a figurative meaning as well: Armenia and the

United Kingdom, although geographically situated on the opposite

edges of Europe, are developing successful cooperation. At the

same time, the diplomat noted that in Great Britain people have

a knowledge about Armenia first of all in connection with the

persisting problem of Nagorno Artsax. According to him, the

solution to this problem will make it possible to "open

borders", which will promote a flow of investments in Armenia.

Further, the British people will surmount the psychological

barrier that Armenia is an unstable country.

 

Ambassador Jones is convinced that the settlement of the

Artsax conflict will enable Armenia to become the center of

the region. To Noyan Tapan's question if it was really possible,

taking into consideration the West's inclination to regard

Georgia as the center of the Caucasus, Mr. Jones answered that

Armenia has vast opportunities to become the region's center,

and if the borders are opened this advantage of Georgia "will

simply cease to exist". "I can assure you that businessmen see

much more favorable conditions and are treated much better in

Armenia than in other countries," Timothy Jones emphasized.

 

John Slate, a representative of the Trade Partners

governmental organization, noted that the goal of their mission

was to study the possibilities of investing in Armenia and

present them to the business circles in Great Britain.

Simultaneously, he noted that the Armenians, too, must make

efforts to promote their good image in Great Britain.

 

It should be mentioned that UK exports to Armenia in 2000

totaled $69 million (in 1999 - $62 million). The exports of

Armenia to the UK in 2000 amounted to $13 million.

 

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All Rights Reserved, All reproduction prohibited.

 

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[MosJan]

YES!!! ARMENIA HAS GOOD CHANCES TO BECOME THE REGION'S CENTER - <>AND<> - ARMENIA WILL BECOME THE REGION'S CENTER -<>- JUST GAVE US SOME TIME