Putin returns two Moscow from 2-day Armenian visit

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 25, 2005 Friday

MOSCOW, March 25 — President Vladimir Putin has returned to Moscow
from a two-day working visit to Armenia.

The Year of Russia in Armenia was launched during the visit. “Such
projects have a positive effect on humanitarian contacts and lay a
good foundation for economic and political relationship,” Putin said.

Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan had negotiations on
trade, economic and investment cooperation and the CIS situation.

Putin gave assessment to the current developments in Kyrgyzstan at
a joint press conference. He regretted that problems in another CIS
member country are being solved with illegal methods and accompanied
with violence and casualties. The president said though that Russia
would do its best to retain relations with Kyrgyzstan.

He said he would not object to Askar Akayev’s residence in Russia.
“This is quite possible,” he said.

Russia will do its best to promote the Karabakh settlement, Putin
said. He said he hopes for the soonest meeting between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents.