ARMENIAN LEADER IMPRESSED BY PUTIN’S RAPID RESPONSE PHONE CALLS

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
20 Aug 04

Sochi, 20 August: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is pleased with
his talks with his Russian counterpart and particularly with the speed
and efficiency with which decisions were taken.

“During the talks, Vladimir Putin made operational telephone calls to
his ministers and issued instructions,” Kocharyan said. “I think this
prompt style is very effective,” the Armenian president said.

For his part, Vladimir Putin confirmed that he had telephoned Prime
Minister (Mikhail) Fradkov, Finance Minister Aleksey Kudrin and
Transport Minister Igor Levitin during the talks. “It was possible to
do so,” Putin said with a smile. “Bearing in mind the opportunities
created here not just for the press but for presidents too,” he said
by way of clarification, casting his eye over the new press centre
opened at his Bocharov Ruchey residence this month.