Armenian, Georgian Presidents Discuss Economic Cooperation, Regional Security Issues

TBILISI (RFE/RL) — President Serzh Sarkisian discussed with Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili joint energy projects and praised their impact on Georgia-Armenian relations during a working visit to Tbilisi on Friday.

Official statements on the talks suggested that they focused on economic issues. Gharibashvili’s office said the two men discussed “prospects for enhancing economic cooperation” between the two neighboring states. It gave no details.

A statement by the Armenian presidential press service said Sarkisian and Gharibashvili “stressed the importance of the implementation of infrastructure projects, including on energy, of regional significance.” It said they agreed that those projects “will considerably strengthen economic ties between Armenia and Georgia.”

The statement most probably referred to the unfolding construction of a fourth Armenian-Georgian electricity transmission line which is supposed to synchronize the two countries’ power grids. The $115 million project is financed by Germany’s state-run development bank KfW and the European Union.

Gharibashvili and Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze discussed the issue with their Armenian counterparts when they visited Yerevan last year. The Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said at the time that two sides will be able to more than triple mutual electricity supplies after the new line goes on stream in 2018.

Sarkisian’s latest trip to Tbilisi comes as the Georgian government is exploring the possibility of diversifying the sources of natural gas supplied to Georgia. The bulk of that gas is currently imported from Azerbaijan.

Georgia could specifically start buying gas from Russia or Iran. Kaladze said on Wednesday that he will visit Tehran next month to discuss the matter with Iranian officials.

A deal with Iran would make Armenia a potential transit route for Iranian gas deliveries to Georgia. Armenia has been importing relatively modest volumes of Iranian gas through a pipeline built in 2007.

MassisPost

Share
Published by
MassisPost

Recent Posts

Armenia Holds First Strategic Sports Reform Forum in Yerevan

YEREVAN — Armenia’s first Strategic and Systemic Sports Reform Forum was held today at the…

2 days ago

Armenian Citizens’ Children May Be Barred from Attending Armenian Schools in Istanbul

ISTANBUL -- Inspectors from Turkey’s Ministry of Education have begun conducting inspections at Armenian schools…

2 days ago

Armenia Records 59,300 More Arrivals Than Departures in First Half of 2026

YEREVAN -- Armenia recorded 59,300 more arrivals than departures during the first half of 2026,…

2 days ago

Armenia and Russia Discuss Lifting Restrictions on Armenian Exports and Transit

ALMATY -- Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan met with Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut in…

2 days ago

Interest in Armenian Citizenship Rising Among Ethnic Armenians Who Are Russian Citizens

YEREVAN  -- Interest in obtaining Armenian citizenship has increased significantly among Russian citizens of Armenian…

2 days ago

Healing and Hope: The 2026 AMAA Armenia Medical Mission

PARAMUS, NJ – On July 2, 2026, a team of 32 volunteers departed for a…

2 days ago