RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 26 2004

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT STOPS IN DUSHANBE ON HIS WAY TO CHINA

DUSHANBE, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – The Presidents of Tajikistan
and Armenia Emomali Rakhmonov and Robert Kocharyan discussed on
Sunday in Dushanbe the issues of bilateral cooperation, said the
press secretary of the Tajik president, Abdufattokh Sharipov.

Mr. Kocharyan made a short stop in the Tajik capital on his way to
China, where he is going on a state visit.

In Mr. Sharipov’s words, at the meeting Mr. Rakhmonov and Mr.
Kocharyan voiced the necessity to continue work over the improvement
of the contractual-legal base of bilateral relations in different
spheres (both countries along with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and
Kyrgyzstan are members of the Organization of the Collective Security
Treaty. Armenia along with Ukraine and Moldova have the status of
observers under the Eurasian Economic Community, whose members are
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan).

The Tajik president, in the words of the press secretary, noted the
necessity to accelerate work on the adoption of a regular package of
bilateral documents, which are now under consideration.

“Tajikistan is ready to continue political dialogue at different
levels, encourage the ties of business, scientific, cultural circles,
contacts between citizens,” the press secretary quoted Mr. Rakhmonov
as saying.

Mr. Kocharyan in his turn said that after the visit of the Tajik
president to Yerevan, the first session of the intergovernmental
commission on economic cooperation and a business forum took place,
said Mr. Sharipov.

“This is a good tendency, which is to provide a result. As the sides
are getting ready, Tajikistan organizes a second session of the
commission so that it could start implementing mutually beneficial
specific projects,” said Mr. Rakhmonov.

After the meeting with Mr. Rakhmonov, Mr. Kocharyan flew to Beijing.