ALL URGENT ISSUES BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA DISCUSSED AT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS

Armenpress
Dec 01 2006

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: During the Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental negotiations held today in Moscow all the urgent
issues existing between the two countries have been discussed, Armenian
and Russian prime ministers Andranik Margarian and Mikhail Fradkov said
at a press conference which followed after the extended negotiations.

"We discussed the majority of the issues and gave the members of the
Armenian and Russian delegations opportunity to speak up," Mikhail
Fradkov said.

According to him, Armenian-Russian trade-economic relations are
developing quite dynamically and the frequency and deepness of
bilateral contacts on political level witness it.

"We have discussed a set of projects as well as steps that must be
undertaken for developing our cooperation even more," the Russian
prime minister said. Referring to the conduction of Year of Armenia
in Russia Fradkov positively assessed the pace of conduction of the
events which, according to him, will give new impetus to bilateral
relations. As to being on the third place in respect of the volume
of investments in Armenia, Fradkov said that there exists a great
potential for increasing the number of investments in Armenia which
was discussed during the meeting of the prime ministers.

"We will use the existing potential and if today we are on the third
place after Germany and Greece we must try to go forward," Russian
prime minister said.

Referring to transport cooperation between Armenia and Russia Andranik
Margarian said that cooperation is going on with difficulty as all
the roads connecting Armenia and Russia pass through Georgia and the
Upper Lars road is closed until now.

"We were informed that the issues for which the border check-point
has been closed will be solved by spring," Andranik Margarian said,
adding that the issue is the reconstruction of the road.

Referring to the Russian-Georgian relations Mikhail Fradkov described
them as rather problematic and said that the created situation has
negative impact on Armenia in respect of blockade.

Today the delegation headed by the prime minister will visit
"Armenia" pavilion where "Legends of Ararat" concert program will
be presented. Tomorrow the Armenian delegation will leave for Saint
Ptersburg.