June 1, 2002 - 00:04 AMT
ARMENIAN PREMIER ASKED HIS GEORGIAN COLLEAGUE ABOUT REASONS FOR INCREASE OF TARIFFS ON ARMENIAN CARGO TRANSPORTATION THROUGH GEORGIA
In Moscow, where the yesterday meeting of the Council of the governments of the CIS state-members took place, the meeting of Armenian Premier Andranik Markarian and Georgian State minister Avtandil Jorbenadze took place. The coordinator of the ministry cabinet of Georgia thanked his Armenian colleague for Yerevan's aid provided for the people suffered from the Tbilisi earthquake. In the course of the meeting the issue on construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was touched. Jorbenadze showed interest in the project and stated the Georgian leadership would discuss opportunities of assisting in its realization. Speaking about energy issues, the state secretary asked about the security level of the Armenian nuclear power plant. Andranik Margarian assured his colleague that the nuclear power plan is not a threat. As regards the terms of the plant closing, then, according to the Premier, this issue will be solved only after having alternative sources of energy. The head of the Armenian government asked his colleague to explain the reasons for the strange tariff policy conducted by the official Tbilisi for cargo transportation through the country's territory. Particularly, it is known, the tariffs on cargo railway transportation for Armenia are higher that for Azerbaijan. The Premier noted the importance of reactivation of railway communication through Abkhazia. The measures for the settlement of problems of the Armenian population in Samtskhe-Javakhetia region were also discussed. The parts came to the agreement to discuss these issues regularly and to resolve the difficulties.