RUSSIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN LEADER ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Associated Press
09/21/05 10:46 EDT

MOSCOW (AP) – President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday congratulated
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian on his country’s independence
day, underlying Russia’s strong ties with its staunch ally in the
volatile Caucasus region.

“It is good that Russian-Armenian relations, which are dynamic and
wide-ranging, have become a major factor of stability and security in
the region,” Putin told Kocharian in a letter posted on the Kremlin
Web site.

While many other ex-Soviet nations are looking increasingly toward
closer integration into Western structures, Armenia has remained
loyal to Russia. It hosts a Russian military base, which has become
even more important for Moscow after neighboring Georgia pushed for
the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Russia’s energy monopoly Unified Energy Systems controls Armenia’s
only nuclear plant and manages Armenia’s national grid company.

Armenia also depends on Russia for natural gas supplies.

Armenia, an impoverished landlocked nation of about 5 million, gained
independence after the Soviet collapse in 1991.