Conference on Russia-Armenia cooperation opens in Samara
By Lyudmila Yermakova

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 12, 2004 Wednesday

MOSCOW, May 13 — The conference “Russian-Armenian inter-regional
cooperation: state and prospects” opens in the city of Samara, situated
in the middle reaches of the Volga River, Tass learnt on Wednesday at
the Committee for CIS Affairs of the Russian parliament upper chamber.

The two parliaments decided to use “the regional factor” to improve
relations. Fifteen agreements are now operable between regions of
the two countries. It is also planned to discuss participation of an
Armenian delegation in a Petersburg economic forum which will be held
in June and where presentation of Armenia will be held.

Speaker of the Federation Council Sergei Mironov arrives on Thursday
in Samara to participate in the forum at the head of the Russian
delegation. The Armenian delegation is led by speaker of the National
Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan.

According to a Tass dispatch from Yerevan, the Armenian delegation also
includes representatives from all political forces in the republican
parliament as well as executives of several ministries and regions of
the country. The Armenian speaker plans to have meetings with Mironov,
executives of the Samara Region and members of the business community.

Mironov will also have his own, Russian programme. For instance he
will meet regional Governor Konstantin Titov and deputies to the
Samara legislative assembly and will visit the Volgaburmash company.

The forum will be held under the aegis of the Russian parliament
upper chamber and the Armenian parliament.