Armenia, Germany sign tax treaty, eye further cooperation

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and Germany on Wednesday, June 29 signed an intergovernmental agreement to avoid double taxation of income and property.

At a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan hailed the deal and the cooperation between the two countries generally.

Sargsyan stressed that Armenia views Germany as an important economic and political partner, appreciates the financial and technical assistance provided by the German government, including the 500,000 euros in financial assistance for amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code.

At the meeting, Sargsyan once again expressed gratitude on the adoption by the German Bundestag of a resolution on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

Also, the parties discussed the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh peace process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states and possibilities and prospects of moving the process forward. They stressed the importance of a consistent implementation of agreements reached in Vienna and Saint Petersburg at recent meetings aimed at reaching a lasting peace and stability.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev met on June 20 in Saint Petersburg to address the conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin mediating the talks. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents confirmed their commitment to the implementation of agreements reached at a Vienna-hosted meeting on May 16. To that end, they have agreed to increase the number of international observers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. Also, they expressed satisfaction that the ceasefire was now holding.

Prior to that, a meeting between both leaders was organized on May 16 in Vienna, with top diplomats from the MG co-chairing countries hosting the summit.

In addition, Sargsyan and Steinmeier discussed issues related to Armenia-EU cooperation. The President expressed hope that negotiations over a new framework agreement, after four successfully completed stages, will be concluded in the nearest future.