SERGEI LAVROV: DIFFICULTIES ARISING IN RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN COOPERATION ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. "In recent year Russia not only
has retained its position of the leading trade partner of Armenia
but also has established itself as a big investor in the Armenian
economy." The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this at
the April 4 meeting with the teaching staff and students of Yerevan
State University (YSU).
However, in his words, the establishment of ecomomic relations is
impossible without difficulties. Particularly, it was possible "to
breathe life" not into all the Armenian enterprises transferred to
Russia under the agreement "Property for Debt". He said that they
succeeded in regulating the work at only the Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant out of the enterprises transferred to Russia.
As regards the other enterprises, the minister noted that their
specific character was not fully taken into account because efficient
operation of such enterprises becomes more complicated in market
conditions. "We are not going to recede: both the Russian and Armenian
sides have enough will and resolution to modernize these enterprises. A
special bilateral governmental commission will deal with the the fate
of Mars Plant and all other enterprises," S. Lavrov stated.
He assured those present that difficulties arising in the
Russian-Armenian coopration are not insurmountable, which is also
evidenced by "the qualitative changes in our relations, which have
become possible in many respects thanks to the fact that Russia has
grown stronger economically."
As regards making the control stricter on the Russian-Georgian border
and its impact on Armenia, S. Lavrov said that the reasons for stricter
control are obvious for the Russian side. "We can’t shut our eyes to
Georgia’s unprecedented military preparations which may be aimed at
solution of the South Ossetian and Abkhazian problems by force. We
are doing everything so that the Armenian side will not suffer from
tightened control and all possible negative consequences will be
reduced to a minimum," the Russian foreign minister said.