Friday, 16 December 2005
Today RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan has received newly appointed Indian Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Rhina Pandei.
In congratulating the Ambassador on her entering upon diplomatic mission in our country, the Prime Minister said that the development of full-fledged relationship with friendly India was increasingly seen as a priority by the Armenian authorities and the GoA placed a special focus upon the furtherance and deepening of a mutually beneficial Armenian-Indian cooperation. The high-level political dialog between the two countries was according to the Prime Minister fostered by President Kocharyan's late 2003 State visit to India and the October, 2005 visit to Armenia of Vice President of India Bharion Singh Shekhavat.
With reference to trade contacts between the two countries, a considerable recent rise in bilateral exchanges was mentioned on either side. Nevertheless, both sides have indicated a significant potential still unused in this field. The Armenian-Indian intergovernmental commission, the 4th meeting of which is due to be held in Yerevan in early 2006, was said to have an important role to play in the achievement of this goal. The ITs and the SMEs, as well as agriculture, tourism, health care, culture and othere spheres were mentioned among the priority areas of prospective cooperation.
During the meeting, Mr. Margaryan expressed his appreciation of the assistance received gratis from the Government of India by stressing that the Indian-make agricultural implements (over 300 tractors) to be given as a free gift to rural communities in Armenia were supposed to go a long way towards the social and economic development of these communities.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that during H.E. Pandei's tenure of office the existing mutually beneficial Armenian-Indian cooperation would continue developing successfully and, wishing Her Excellency every success in the exercise of her diplomatic mission in Armenia, he reiterated his government's readiness to possibly back her in this matter.
