Vladimir Putin arrived on a visit in Yerevan
by Kira Latukhina

RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
March 25, 2005 Friday

SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 58, p.4

The Russian President Vladimir Putin began yesterday a visit to the
capital of Armenia, Yerevan. The two-day visit is officially devoted
to the opening of the Year of Russia in Armenia. Nezavisimaya Gazeta
writes that the visit’s aim is actually to demonstrate – among the
former Soviet republics still exist such that haven’t fallen under
the influence of the West.

Despite the existence of certain difficulties in Russian-Armenian
relations, Yerevan remains one of the Moscow’s closest allies in the
former Soviet Union.

According to the paper, Vladimir Putin and his Armenian counterpart
Robert Kocharyan have enough to discuss during the talks that will
take place today. Apart from economic cooperation and expansion of
cultural contacts there are issues of reforming the CIS and the recent
crucial changes in the political landscape of numerous post-Soviet
states. Armenia, in turn, is concerned with certain priorities of
the Moscow’s foreign policy (namely, close cooperation with Turkey)
and believes that Russia must demonstrate its interest in Armenia’s
affairs more clearly.

Also, it is expected that after the talks with Kocharyan the Russian
President will finally make an official statement on the recent events
in Kyrgyzstan and comment on his yesterday’s meeting with the Russia’s
top businessmen.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress