YEREVAN (Armenpress)–President Robert Kocharian and visiting Belarus prime minister Sergey Sidorsky agreed Monday to boost bilateral trade. Kocharian was quoted by his press office as saying that he was pleased with developing relations between Armenia and Belarus. Sidorsky said he was impressed by the volume of construction in Yerevan, which he said was an indication of an economic boom. Kocharian and Sidorsky singled out high technology, jewelry and agriculture as areas in which both countries can cooperate very successfully Sidorsky also visited the Dzidzernagapert memorial monument and laid a wreath in memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. Prime minister Andranik Markarian said Monday that Armenia’s trade with Belarus has grown this year by 37 percent . Speaking to a news conference after talks with the visiting Sidorsky, Markarian said last year bilateral trade amounted to 15 billion Drams, while in the first seven months of 2006 it was already 14 billion drams. The two prime ministers expressed hope that seven agreemen’s they signed in Yerevan will help boost trade between the two countries. Markarian said Belarus is taking interest in Armenian agricultural machine building, information technology and agriculture. Markarian said his government was ready to take all steps to carry out the tasks set by the presidents of Armenia and Belarus. Sidorsky said his delegation was comprised of businessmen, heads of big companies who came to Armenia to find new partners. One of the questions discussed Monday was opening of a representation of a Belarus pharmaceutical company in Yerevan.
