Armenian president says his country not turning away from Russia

.c The Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Armenian President Robert Kocharian said
Monday that the Caucasus Mountain nation has no intention of turning
away from its ally Russia, and called speculation of a westward shift
unfounded.

The talk of Armenia seeking to shun Russia in favor of the West is
“the fruit of sick imagination and narrow thinking,” Kocharian said
during a televised news conference with visiting Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili.

The two met at Lake Sevan, in the mountains some 60 kilometers (37
miles) east of the capital, Yerevan, and discussed economic
cooperation, international issues and other matters including the
situation for Georgia’s sizable ethnic Armenian population.

Saakashvili has steered his country westward since his 2004 election,
and sought to shed Russian influence. The leaders of Ukraine and
Moldova, two other former Soviet republics, have made similar moves.

Armenia is Russia’s closest ally in the Caucasus region, and has much
warmer relations with Moscow than Georgia does. Russia maintains a
military base in Armenia, though it has begun withdrawing two bases
from Georgia after prodding from Georgia and the West.

08/22/05 16:14 EDT