Regnum, Russia
Dec 1 2006

Russian prime minister: Russia and Armenia should strengthen
relations within CSTO

Russia and Armenia have a large experience in cooperation in
investments, Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov at a meeting
with an Armenian delegation headed by Armenia’s Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan in Moscow. The delegation from Armenia arrived in
the Russian capital to hold consultations with the Russian party and
later it will go to St. Petersburg to participate in the ceremony of
closing the Year of Armenia in Russia.

According to the Russian prime minister, activity of ARMENAL Company,
investment program by Vympelkom Company in Armenia worth up to
$500,000, as well as Vneshtorgbank experience in the Armenian banking
investments market are good examples of such experience. `Cooperation
in transport and high technologies is also planned,’ Fradkov added.
Speaking on the problem of exploiting enterprises in Armenia handed
over to Russia for repayment of the public debt, Mikhail Fradkov
noted that interest of business needs to be secured in this issue.
`For example, the Mars enterprise is still provided with orders that
could allow the company develop,’ the Russian prime minister noted.
At the same time he added that there are some problems in this field
concerning privatization.

Answering a question by a REGNUM correspondent, whether it is
possible to suspend gas supplies from Russia via Armenia to Georgia,
if the Georgian party continues unsanctioned pumping out of gas,
Mikhail Fradkov noted that the Russian side is concerned with the
situation in the Russian-Georgian relations, however it hopes for the
best. `We take into account the fact that exacerbation of the
Russian-Georgian relations affects Armenia negatively. The problem is
a subject for discussion,’ Fradkov noted expressing hope that `the
situation will not become worse.’ `If the situation deteriorates, the
Russian party together with operative services will have to undertake
complex measures aimed at preventing from theft, but I hope it will
not go that far,’ the Russian prime minister said. He also stressed
that the current situation makes Russia and Armenia `fulfill their
obligations within the CSTO more actively without overlooking the
current frameworks.’