Georgia’s PM Kvirikashvili Visits Armenia

YEREVAN – Following a trip to Azerbaijan last week, Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili left Monday for a one-day official visit to Armenia to meet his counterpart Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

The two heads of state discussed bilateral relations between Armenia and Georgia and expressed interest in boosting their trade and economic relations, as well as cultural exchanges.

Kvirikashvili also met with Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, where the two sides discussed regional security and joint economic projects.

Abrahamyan praised the “noticeable progress” in relations between the two South Caucasus neighbors following his meeting with Kvirikashvili.

“Georgian-Armenian relations have been characterized by positive progress in recent years,” said Kvirikashvili, while praising the high level of cooperation the two countries enjoy in the economic sphere.

According to Armenian government data, Armenia’s trade with Georgia rose by 17 per cent in 2015 and as much as 63 per cent in the first half of this year, even if it remained rather modest in absolute terms, RFE/RL reported.

Abrahamyan suggested at the meetings the creation of bilateral joint ventures in Armenia that would have tariff-free access to Russia and other Eurasian Customs Union markets.

Kvirikashvili reportedly welcomed the proposal and offered to discuss the steps needed to implement an open-door economic policy to countries closely aligned with Moscow.

In a controversial move, Armenian President Sargsyan rejected a comprehensive free-trade deal with the EU in January 2015 in favor of joining Russia’s Customs Union, which also includes the former Soviet republics Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Abrahamyan and Kvirikashvili also discussed the planned construction of a new USD 105 million high-voltage transmission line that will connect Armenia’s and Georgia’s power grids.

By Tamar Svanidze

Edited By Nicholas Waller