MOSCOW, YEREVAN DEVELOP COOPERATION

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 10 2004

MOSCOW, May 10 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and Armenia pay special attention
to multilateral cooperation in the Caucasus, said Russian foreign
ministry official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko.

“Special attention is paid to issues of coordination of the two
countries’ efforts to rehabilitate the situation in the Caucasus,
develop the multilateral cooperation potential, including in the
framework of ‘the Caucasus Four’, prevent new and settle old conflicts,
in particular, the Nagorno-Karabakh one,” he said.

Yakovenko said during contacts of Russian and Armenian representatives,
issues of international policy are important. “The positions of Russia
and Armenia here are close or coincide. The sides are full of resolve
to make purposeful steps in the fight against terrorism in all its
manifestations on the bilateral and multilateral basis,” he emphasized.

Touching upon bilateral interaction, Yakovenko said the dialogue
focuses on discussion of issues of bilateral relations from the point
of view of realization of agreements reached at Russo-Armenian summits
and on determination of new possibilities to deepen cooperation.

He reminded those present that in the economic sphere, discussed are
issues of strengthening economic ties, realization of the Property
on Account of Debt agreement (participation of Russia in purchasing
the shares of the most liquid Armenian industrial enterprises),
issues of interaction in power engineering, transportation and
investment. The sides attach great significance to the resolution of
transportation problems, in particular, be means of restoration of
railway communication between Russia and Armenia via Georgia.