ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 2 2007
Lavrov tells Putin about upcoming visits to Armenia, Turkmenistan
02.04.2007, 21.03
MOSCOW, April 2 (Itar-Tass) – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he
intends to visit Armenia and Turkmenistan for talks with the
leadership of these countries.
In his meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Lavrov said,
`Tomorrow I’ll leave for Yerevan and then for Ashgabat.’ `I intend to
hold talks with the presidents and the foreign ministers of these
countries on the issues, which have been raised as part of your
meetings with President Kocharyan in Sochi, Prime Minister Mikhail
Fradkov’s visit to Ashgabat and your message to the new president of
Turkmenistan.’
`In Armenia and Turkmenistan I’ll have talks with our compatriots,
visit schools and theatres,’ Lavrov said. `I’ll inform you about the
results of my visits,’ he added.
Lavrov will make an official visit to Armenia on April 3-4, Foreign
Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Monday.
The talks will focus on `the implementation of the agreements reached
by the presidents of Russia and Armenia in January to intensify
mutually advantageous cooperation in the fuel and energy sector and
transport’, Kamynin said.
`Special attention will be riveted to regional problems, discussions
on the joint steps taken by the foreign ministries of both countries
to contribute to normalising the situation in Transcaucasia, settling
conflicts in the region and creating an atmosphere of trust in order
to initiate all Caucasian cooperation,’ the spokesman said.
`We hope to hear our partners’ assessment on the election situation
in Armenia. We expect the parliamentary elections in the country to
be held at a high level and in compliance with the democratic norms,’
Kamynin stressed.
On April 3, Lavrov will leave for Turkmenistan on a working visit. As
part of the visit the Russian minister will meet Turkmen President
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and his counterpart Rashid Meredov. The
sides will discuss the state of and prospects for the development of
economic relations.
`Russia considers it important to take several additional steps in
order to make economic ties more stable and sustainable and use the
existing potential. In Ashgabat the sides will exchange views on
international issues, the situation in the Central Asian region and
the settlement of the Caspian Sea status,’ Kamynin pointed out.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
