RUSSIA REMAINS KEY TRADE PARTNER TO SOUTH CAUCASUS – DIPLOMAT
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 7, 2006 Tuesday

Russia will remain a key trade partner to all South Caucasian countries
for a long time, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza said in Yerevan on Tuesday.

He said that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia should choose the way
of cooperation with Russia.

Bryza’s negotiations in Yerevan centered on energy security.

Positive cooperation between Armenia and Russian gas suppliers has
been developed for years, and should naturally go on, he said. Yet
the best way to energy security is diversification of supplies, the
diplomat said. He said it is a matter of gas, hydro and thermal power,
and nuclear energy.

Rates of the development of military-political relations between the
United States and Armenia depend on Yerevan, the official said.

Armenia has taken many important steps towards closer cooperation with
the Euro-Atlantic community, he said, emphasizing the Armenia-NATO
individual partnership plan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress