Positive or shameful index?
The initiative to conduct a field assessment mission in the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to the OSCE, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said during today's press conference with his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze.
"Two experts from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will accompany the OSCE MG Co-Chairs. The OSCE mission bears no relation to Azerbaijan's UN initiative. It is another mission, and has nothing in common with the UN. The OSCE mission aims to assess the situation in the territories around Karabakh," Minister Nalbandian said.
The Georgian FM arrived in Yerevan on October 3. Today the two Foreign Ministers discussed cooperation in the spheres of energy and trade, problems of Georgian Armenians and other regional and international issues.
Minister Nalbandian underlined that all issues between Armenia and Georgia are settled through negotiations and bilateral meetings. For his part, Minister Vashadze noted that Armenia-Georgia collaboration is on a high level.
The Foreign Ministers empathized that bilateral trade has grown by 50% amounting to $ 114 million. Minister Nalbandian considered the index as positive, while Vashadze said it was shameful.
"The turnover between the countries has shown an increase but it is shameful that the index is too low. We still have work to do," said the Georgian FM.
Recently, Grigol Vashadze announced that the agreement on extension of Russian military base deployment in Armenia threatens Armenia's security.
Today Vashadze said it is upon Armenia to decide its security issues and he is not entitled to speak of Armenia's security.
"However, as a sovereign state, Georgia can voice opinion on Russian bases in South Caucasus. Tbilisi comprehends the danger of the Russian military bases. We have the bitter experience of hosting 3 of them," he said.
Commenting on Mikheil Saakashvili's statement on creation of a Georgian-Azerbaijani confederation, Vashadze said it is a manifestation of good relations.
"The President's statement prompts the format of future cooperation. However, Georgia is not going to draw up a constitution for the confederation," he said.
Speaking about Javakhk Armenians, the Georgian FM said there is no region called Javakhk on Georgia's geographic map, there is only the region of Samtskhe Javakheti. Then he added that the Georgian government provides Armenian-language textbooks for 103 Armenian schools and does its best for Georgians and Armenians to enjoy equal rights.
Georgian FM Grigol Vashadze further said that there is no oral or written order to close the Upper Lars checkpoint. It might have been temporarily closed for some technical reasons.
"According to my sources, the checkpoint has resumed its work," he said.
