Georgian, Armenian Presidents Pledged Cooperation

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met on March 12 with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan within the frames of his two-day visit to Armenia.

“Naturally, I consider the South Caucasus as a single region. We have close relations with Azerbaijan, but I think we should also develop bilateral Georgian-Armenian relations. We are also developing relations with our other neighbors, and in the end, as a result of resolving many of the existing problems, including some profound problems, this region must be integrated — both politically and economically — in order to be successful,” RFE/RL reports quoting the Georgian President.

Saakashvili also said Armenia could help Georgia normalize its relations with Russia, which have been complicated by the continued presence of Russian troops and Russia’s support for Georgia’s separatist regions.

Having emphasized Armenia’s and Georgia’s commitment to integrate into European structures, the sides stressed the necessity for closer cooperation in their relations with the European Union, as well as within the framework of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the CIS.

The Armenian news agency Armenpress reports the sides also reiterated their commitment to the principle of non-interference with each other’s internal affairs, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, as well as respect for human rights and freedoms.

Reports say that the Armenian President pushed the issue of restoration of the railway connection between Armenia and Russia, via Georgia, which was terminated because of the armed conflict in Abkhazia.

Georgian side agrees on restoration of the railway link, however demands from Russia and Abkhaz side to start the process simultaneously with the return of the Georgian internally displaced persons to breakaway Abkhazia.