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Athens: Deputy FM Stylianidis Visits Armenia

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  • Athens: Deputy FM Stylianidis Visits Armenia

    DEPUTY FM STYLIANIDIS VISITS ARMENIA

    Athens News Agency, Greece
    March 30 2006

    The political will to strengthen economic and trade relations and
    development cooperation between Greece and Armenia was confirmed in
    Yerevan on Wednesday with the signing of a cooperation protocol by
    Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and with the bilateral
    contacts the Greek deputy minister had with Armenia's political
    leadership.

    The promotion of the two countries' bilateral relations is a commitment
    by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Armenian President Robert
    Kocharian, during the latter's visit to Athens in November 2005,
    Stylianidis said and termed Armenia a "strategic partner of Greece
    in the region of the Black Sea."

    With the signing of the economic, industrial, technical and scientific
    cooperation protocol, the work of the fourth Joint Interministerial
    Committee, at which economic and development issues were examined
    and which was jointly chaired by Stylianidis and Armenian Agriculture
    Minister Davit Lokyan, came to an end.

    After the signing of the document, Stylianidis expressed satisfaction
    over the new mobility and the positive reaction of the Armenian side
    to resolve "pending issues of the past", as he said, that concern
    Greek investments in Armenia.

    The Greek side placed particular emphasis on development cooperation,
    stressing that Armenia constitutes a basic priority of its development
    policy. It is characteristic that during the 2001-2004 period it
    has spent 9.5 million dollars for this purpose and in a "mutually
    beneficial" way, as the Greek deputy minister said.

    The sectors of financing development projects in Armenia include
    agriculture, tourism, support for small and medium-size businesses
    and infrastructures.

    The protocol also anticipates, in the framework of backing economic
    relations, cooperation in the energy sector, as well as the creation
    of better conditions to improve the investing climate.

    Resolving existing pending issues with Greek companies will contribute
    to a climate of stability and reliability for increasing Greek
    investments.

    "I want a positive response from the Armenian administration so that
    I can convey a strong message to the business community of my country
    to carry out new investments here," Stylianidis said and reminded that
    Greece is the top foreign investor with capital invested amounting
    to 450 million dollars.

    The Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) and the Union of Producers
    and Businessmen of Armenia signed a cooperation memorandum in the
    framework of improving the business climate and drawing the business
    communities closer together.

    Referring to political relations and the bilateral meetings he had
    on Wednesday with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Trade
    and Economic Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian and Deputy
    Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan, Stylianidis said they were very
    constructive and that Greece is prepared to support Armenia with
    its European prospects, placing emphasis on the funding instruments
    provided for the country.

    Athens will also support every initiative by Armenia to harmonise
    itself with the European framework and to utilise European funds for
    its development.

    Stylianidis pointed out that this is the target of Greece's development
    aid for Armenia, to bring it closer to the European Union.
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