RUSSIAN FIRST DEP PREMIER TO MEET WITH ARMENIA’S LEADERSHIP

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 10, 2007 Tuesday 06:54 PM EST

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on Wednesday will
visit the Yerevan school for children of Russian servicemen, located
in the northern part of the city, where Russian troops have billeted
since 1827.

Ivanov arrived on a two-day working visit to Yerevan on Tuesday.

"We plan discussing matters of investment cooperation, nuclear
energy, the implementation of gas and energy accords with President
Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian. We shall make a
special emphasis on the transport infrastructure, in particular the
Caucasus-Poti ferry service," Ivanov said at the government’s meeting
in the Kremlin on Monday.

He said that a new ferry was recently bought that would be put in
service soon.

"At last we shall establish a regular and extensive transport
connection with Armenia," Ivanov said.

"We also plan discussing questions of military technical cooperation,"
he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reporting the results of
his visit to Yerevan last week, said that the Armenian authorities
had welcomed Russia’s decision to take part in the monitoring of
parliamentary elections in Armenia.

Lavrov said he had had a meeting with President Robert Kocharian.

"He is very much pleased with the way the agreements, reached early
this year are being fulfilled, including those dealing with trade and
economic cooperation, as well as with the directions of political
cooperation, specifically within the framework of CIS and of the
Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO)," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, he coordinated with Armenian officials during
the visit preparations for a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign
Ministers, due to be held in Astana this month.