YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation led by Georgian parliament Speaker David Bakradze that arrived in Yerevan on February 24 on a two-day official visit met with RA National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamian the same day. H. Abrahamian highly assessing the current level of Armenian-Georgian friendly relations gave assurance that Georgian parliament Speaker's official visit to Armenia will contribute to further development and strengthening of the two countries' interparliamentary relations. D. Bakradze, in his turn, expressed confidence that his first official visit to Armenia will be an important step in the issue of partnership development between the two friendly countries' parliaments. Touching upon the regional problems, H. Abrahamian said that Armenia keeps a neutral position in the issue of settlement of Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts expecting the same balanced approach in the issue of NKR from the Georgian side. He emphasized the necessity to implement programs aimed at strengthening transport infrastructures in the region in this context attaching importance to the construction of the Yerevan-Gyumri-Ninotsminda-Akhaltskha-Batumi motorway being part of the North-South transport corridor. Touching upon the problem of churches belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church working for many centuries in Georgia, H. Abrahamian expressed the hope that issues regarding return of churches will be also settled after solving the issue of legal status of Armenian Apostolic Church Georgian Armenian diocese. D. Bakradze also attached importance to development of interparliamentary cooperation in all directions, activation of economic contacts, development of transport infrastructures. He said that the number of Armenian tourists visiting Georgia increased 50-fold within five years. D. Bakradze highly assessed Armenian side's position in the issues of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In his affirmation, Caucasian region's development, stability, and security is also conditioned by the Armenian-Georgian relations. Touching upon the problem of Armenian churches, D. Bakradze assured that the Georgian authorities will do their best within their jurisdiction to settle the problem.

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