Αποφάσεις - Ανακοινώσεις — ΦΕΚ A' 170/2003

Economic Cooperation The two Sides reconfirmed their mutual interest to boost bilateral trade through additional entrepreneurial under?takings at bilateral and multilateral level. Both Sides in this respect, agreed to intensify the coop?eration between the Chambers of Commerce and In?dustry, to present their products at local and international fairs, to be represented in third countries through mutual undertakings, to create possibilities to get acquainted with business opportunities existing in their respective counties through market research visits as well as to develop a joint venture network. 1.1.Bilateral Trade Relations - Investments 1.1.1. The two Sides stressed the importance of the Greek technical assistance and the Guarantees of the Greek Export Credit Insurance Organization (ECIO) for in?vestments in Armenia. 1.1.2. The two Sides mentioned again the cooperation development directions, approved during the previous meeting of the Committee, in the food and beverages in?dustry, milk and dairy products industry, textiles, shoes and leather products, building materials, artificial dia?monds, heat and sun battery production, packaging, phar?maceutical products, chemical industry, electronics, tim?ber industry and furniture, mining industry, information technologies. They also reiterated the importance of establishing of Joint ventures, exchange of experience, business visits, training courses and technical aid for cooperation devel?opment in the sphere of small and medium enterprises. 1.1.3. The two Sides expressed their satisfaction for the training courses for Armenian specialists organized bv EOMMEX in 1998-1999, for the visit of more than 30 Greek businessmen in Armenia in the framework of the State Visit of the Greek President in the Republic of Armenia in 1999, for the participation of Armenian businessmen delegation in the business-information seminar in Athens organized with the assistance of the Armenian Embassy in Greece and the industrial entrepreneurs of Greece in July 2000, and the visit of Armenian businessmen in Greece in the framework of the State Visit of the Armenian President to the Hellenic Republic in November 2000. 1.1.4. In the framework of further development of trade re?lations between the two countries, the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO) will establish a close cooperation with the rel?ative Armenian partners aiming at facilitating the contacts and cooperation between Greek and Armenian companies. In this respect a Memorandum of understanding was signed between HEPO and ADA (Armenian Development Agency) and is attached to this memorandum as annex III. 1.1.5. The Armenian Side proposed to the Hellenic Side to consider the possibility of supporting the participation of Armenia in Thessaloniki International Fair for 2003. 1.1.6 The Greek Side expressed the need for improve?ment of the investment climate in Armenia as well as the mechanisms of enforcement of the existing legislation. Further steps should be taken for the protection of each country’s investments in their respective territories. After the proposal of the Greek Side, the two sides agreed to activate article 12 of the Agreement for the Mutual Protection and Promotion of Investments signed in 1993 between Greece and Armenia, in force since 28 4.1995. Therefore representatives of the two sides will meet within the next three months in Athens, in order to dis?cuss and settle issues arising out of the implementation of this agreement, namely problems concerning the Credit Facility, OTE - Armentel and the Commercial Bank of Greece (Armenia) The meeting will be prepared in advance through diplomatic channels. 1.1.7. The issue of the difficulties encountered by EMKAT S A was also discussed and the Greek Side stated its inter?est that this issue be examined in good faith from the Ar?menian Side. 1.2 Credit Facility It was pointed out that the repayment of the amount of 5,3 min USD of the Credit Facility is still pending. The issue is of major importance and will be discussed at the future meeting of representatives of both sides in Athens, agreed in article 1 1 6 of this Memorandum. 1.3 Banking Sector Taking into account the role of the banking sector in fa?cilitating the development of trade and investments be?tween the two countries, both Sides reiterated their interest to enhance cooperation between the banks in the two countries In this context, the Greek Side noted that the Central Bank of Armenia should ensure that, all banks without exception, strictly comply with the regulations gov?erning banking transactions 1.4 Energy 1.4.1. The two Sides expressed their satisfaction for the regular successful meetings on energy issues held be?tween experts of the two countries. 1.4.2. The two Sides reconfirmed their intention to devel?op cooperation in the use of alternative energy sources (solar, wind, biomass and geoenergy, based on the greek experience and scientific research and exchange of tech?nologies The possibilities of enlarging cooperation were also discussed. The investment project on «Optimal Development of New Hydroenergetic Power» was submitted to the Hellenic Side. The Armenian Side proposed to the Greek side to ex?plore the possibility of joint implementation of pilot projec?ts on solar water heating appliance production. 2972 ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΕΩΣ (ΤΕΥΧΟΣ ΠΡΩΤΟ) stated the importance of negotiations with Iran concerning the pending issues including the gas price for the com?pletion of the technical-economic investigation. 1.4.4. The two Sides mentioned the support of the Greek Side regarding the creation of a data base for the energy sector, in the scope of the trilateral cooperation. 1.4.5. The two Sides agreed to study the possibility of or?ganizing seminars and training courses, as well as exchanging information about the implemented projects for rational utilization of energy. 1.5. Taxation and Customs The two Sides expressed their satisfaction for the com?pletion of the necessary procedures and the entering into force of the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income between the two countries as well as the ratifi?cation by the Greek Side of the Agreement for Mutual As?sistance between the Customs Services of the two coun?tries. 1.6 Transport and Communication 1.6.1. The two Sides reaffirmed their willingness to further improve their cooperation in the maritime trans?portation sector and in particular in the combined transport mode. The two Sides considered necessary to establish an Ar?menian-Hellenic Joint Working Group for the implemen?tation of joint activities and study of existing tasks in the mutual international road transport. It was also noted that the Joint Committee of article 14 of the Road Transport Agreement of Passengers and Goods (valid from 2.6.1997) should be convened in order to im?plement the above agreement. 1.6.2. The two Sides noted with satisfaction the very good cooperation in the air transport field and will, to the best of their ability, strive to further promote the develop?ment of the relevant market. 1.6.3. The two Sides discussed the possibility of transit ground postal mail exchange with other countries through Armenia and Greece. 1.6.4. The two Sides expressed their willingness to ad?vance the achieved level of cooperation, emphasizing the implementation of construction assembling works of Eu?rasian optic-fiber cable in Armenia The bilateral economic benefit of cable exploitation and the necessity of network extension were indicated. The two Sides agreed to look into the possibilities of en?hancing the cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the issue of optic-fiber cable extension to Meghri- Marand. The two sides recognize that the third party’s contri?bution is essential for the implementation of this project. 1.7 Agricultural Sector 1.7.1. Both Sides expressed their satisfaction for the co?operation established in the agricultural sector, especially through the Cooperation Protocols Provisions signed - be?tween the two Ministries in 1997 - 1998 and 1999 - 2000, ac?cording to which the following was provided: 10 scholar?ships for Armenian students studying at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, the opportunity of one?month training in Greece for Armenian specialists; yearly food assistance of the Greek Government to Armenia since

The two Sides agreed on the continuation of the above mentioned cooperation. 1.7.2. The Greek Side expressed the hope to overcome the soonest possible procedural deficiencies in order to provide 10000 tons of wheat and 3000 tons of Ammonium Nitrate to Armenia. 1.7.3. The two Sides expressed their readiness to broad?en the cooperation in the sector of agricultural industry and processing through advanced experience of both coun?tries. 1.7.4. The two Sides decided to coordinate the imple?mentation of measures stated in the Cooperation Protocol 2001 - 2002, according to which scholarships for Armeni?an students and the opportunity of training of Armenian specialists at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania were provided. 1.8 Tourism 1.8.1. The two Sides expressed their readiness to examine the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism, signed by the Governments of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Armenia, through the real?ization of the first meeting of the Joint Greek-Armenian Com?mission provided for in the above mentioned Agreement, at a time agreed upon by the appropriate authorities of the two countries. During this meeting, the two sides will have the op?portunity to discuss, among others, the possibility of the free of charge participation of each side in the tourist fairs organized in the territory of the other, and of the Greek as?sistance in establishing a tourism training center in Arme?nia, as well as way and means to encourage Greek tourism investments in Armenia. 1.9. Education, Scientific Cooperation The two Sides will enhance their cooperation in the field of education through the granting of scholarships, training of scientists, materialisation of joint scientific programmes and participation in scientific conferences and seminars. The two Sides will promote the procedures for the sign?ing of the Educational and Cultural Programme, in exe?cution of the Cultural Agreement, signed between the two countries, in December 1994. The Educational and Cultur?al Programme will include the following subjects. - Cooperation in the field of Primary and Secondary Ed?ucation. - Exchanges of educational staff of Primary and Sec?ondary Education. - Cooperation between the Institutes of Higher Education and exchange of Higher Education Professors. ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΕΩΣ (ΤΕΥΧΟΣ ΠΡΩΤΟ) 2973 the other country. - Cooperation in the frame ofEU programmes. - Exchange of educational material at all levels of ed?ucation. Science and Technology The Armenian Side proposed to include the following pri?ority sectors in the scientific-technical cooperation: nu?clear physics, laser technologies, radio-techniques, en?vironmental investigations, materials development tech?nology, semiconductor polymer covering technology, fiber optics technology, physics of energy, biotechnology, information technology. The Armenian Side proposed to present the results of joint research programs at international conferences and seminars. The two Sides noted the necessity of the Armenian-Hel?lenic scientific cooperation extension in the framework of European Union and Black Sea Economic Cooperation, INTAS, COST and other projects. They agreed to have a periodical exchange of information on bilateral and multi?lateral research and development projects. The Hellenic Side confirmed its readiness to assist the Armenian scien?tific technical projects by presenting them to the Western and Central -Eastern European countries, by which the participation of the Armenian Side in the European projec?ts will be secured.

Technical and Financial Assistance The two Sides stressed the importance of the cooper?ation to the mutual benefits of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) of the two countries and recognized: a) the increasing importance of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in economic growth, job creation, regional and local development and social cohesion, b) that entrepreneurship and a dynamic SME sector are important for restructuring economies and for combating poverty, c) that SME policies need to be tailored to the circum?stances and priorities of individual countries and sectors, while contributing to sustainable development and social progress. The Armenian Side informed the Hellenic Side that a Fund, entitled «Small and Medium Entrepreneurship De?velopment National Center of Armenia» (S Μ Ε D Ν C ) was established, in March 2002, by an Armenian Governmen?tal Decree. The Armenian side requested Technical and Financial Assistance from the Hellenic Side for the implementation of the annual activity program of SME DNC of Armenia. The Hellenic Side will consider this request within the framework of the «Second Hellenic Bilateral Development Cooperation Programme 2002 - 2006». The Armenian Side expressed its satisfaction for the technical Assistance provided in the past by the Hellenic Side through the Hellenic Organization of SMEs and Hand?icraft (EOMMEX S.A.) to the benefit of the Armenian SMEs in the context of the «First Hellenic Development Cooper?ation Programme».

Multilateral Cooperation The two Sides confirmed the importance of implement?ing bilateral and regional projects in the framework of Black Sea Trade and Development Bank. The two Sides noted the expediency of Armenian-Hel?lenic bilateral cooperation in the frame of EBRD and IFC. The two Sides confirmed the high level of cooperation in the framework of European Union and Black Sea Eco?nomic Cooperation and agreed to enhance this cooper?ation, in view of the forthcoming Greek Presidency of the EU and the current Armenian Presidency of BSEC , as well as within the Greek-Armenian-lranian Trilateral Cooper?ation. The Armenian side expressed its gratitude for the contin?uous support of Greece in the WTO. The next Meeting of the Committee will be held in Athens. The exact date will be determined through diplomatic channels. Done in Yerevan, on 28 November 2002, in two copies in English language. FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA HELLENIC REPUBLIC Μ. ZADOYAN ANDREAS LOVERDOS Minister of Agriculture Deputy Minister -of Foreign Affairs Memorandum of understanding Between Hellenic Foreign Trade Board and Armenian Development Agency In the course of strengthening bilateral relation between the Hellenic Republic of Greece and the Republic of Arme?nia and the intention of each side to promote and develop trade and investment relations between two countries by all possible means: HEPO and ADA have agreed as follows: