Tuesday, 02 December 2003

GEORGIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL WANTS IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

Published in News Digest

By empty (12/2/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

In an interview with Armenian Public Television on 30 November, National Movement leader Mikhail Saakashvili said that after the 4 January presidential election -- which he is confident of winning -- a new government will be formed comprising young ministers and representatives of Georgia\'s minorities. There are an estimated 400,000 Armenians in Georgia. Saakashvili pledged to improve relations with Armenia, which he termed Georgia\'s main strategic partner.
In an interview with Armenian Public Television on 30 November, National Movement leader Mikhail Saakashvili said that after the 4 January presidential election -- which he is confident of winning -- a new government will be formed comprising young ministers and representatives of Georgia\'s minorities. There are an estimated 400,000 Armenians in Georgia. Saakashvili pledged to improve relations with Armenia, which he termed Georgia\'s main strategic partner. Bilateral relations have been clouded by Georgia\'s refusal in September to repay a $20 million debt to Armenia. Saakashvili said rail tariffs for Armenian goods transiting Georgia will be reduced. He blamed the current high tariffs on favors granted by former President Shevardnadze to the head of Georgian railways. (RFE/RL)
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The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst is a biweekly publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, a Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council, Washington DC., and the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm. For 15 years, the Analyst has brought cutting edge analysis of the region geared toward a practitioner audience.

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