ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTERS DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION

Public TV, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

[Presenter] Russian Prime Minister [Mikhail Fradkov] is satisfied
with the current level of relations between Armenia and Russia. After
a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, Fradkov
expressed his confidence that friendly relations with Armenia will
thrive at all levels.

The prime ministers of the two countries noted that the quantity and
quality indicators of bilateral cooperation are improving. A delegation
from Armenia led by the prime minister will attend the official closing
ceremony of the year of Armenia in Russia in St Petersburg tomorrow.

[Correspondent over video of the meeting in Moscow] The year of Armenia
in Russia came to an end. The closing ceremony will take place in St
Petersburg on 2 December.

The Armenian prime minister held one-to-one meeting with his Russian
counterpart today. Then the meeting continued in an extended format.

The sides discussed the future of their economic cooperation. Fradkov
said that Russia is worried that it is only the third in terms of
investment in the Armenian economy and that this situation has to
change. Fradkov also said that the Russian company Armenal’s operations
in Armenia, the VimpelCom mobile phone company’s investment in the
communication sphere to tune of 500m dollars and the successful
cooperation in banking are pleasant facts. He pointed that there are
still some problems in the sphere of cooperation between Armenia and
Russia which have to be tackled immediately.

[Fradkov, in Russian with Armenian voice-over] The programme on
property-for-debt has not received its final solution yet. The
privatization issues also should be resolved.

[Markaryan, in Russian with Armenian voice-over] We discussed these
issues and negotiations continue.

[Corespondent] Markaryan said that information about the North-South
corridor’s infrastructure will be available in the beginning of 2007.

Asked by journalists whether tension between Georgia and Russia can
affect Armenia’s gas supply, Fradkov said:

[Fradkov] We are worried about the current situation but we hope
that there will no reasons to take strict measures. All steps taken
by us should be correspondent to the requirements of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization.

[Correspondent] The delegation led by Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markaryan will leave for St Petersburg on 2 December.