Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part B (Russia)
August 24, 2007 Friday
DECADE-LONG ALLIANCE OF MOSCOW AND YEREVAN
Vladimir Kuzmin
President Putin meets with President Kocharian of Armenia;
Russian-Armenian cooperation is moving into high gear. Trade turnover
in the first six months of 2007 amounted to $337 million. President
Vladimir Putin received his Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharian,
in Sochi yesterday.
Meetings between presidents of Russia and Armenia are regular, and
have been for years now. Armenian President Robert Kocharian visits
President Vladimir Putin whenever the latter comes to Sochi
(exceptions are extremely rare).
"This particular meeting is quite important. The basic
Russian-Armenian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty will soon be ten
years old," Putin said. Indeed, the document in question provided the
foundation for all contacts between our countries.
"Trade turnover between the Russian Federation and the Republic of
Armenia is growing," Putin continued. "I’m not even talking of
political relations. There is only one definition for them – they are
relations between allies."
Kocharian was anxious to support his host. "Relations in all fields,
from trade turnover to military technology cooperation and political
cooperation, are developing steadily," he said. Kocharian admitted
that he would like to have bilateral relations discussed at the
meeting and promised aid and assistance to their advancement on his
part.
Russian-Armenian cooperation is indeed moving into high gear. Trade
turnover in the first six months of 2007 amounted to $337 million (a
70% rise against that shown in the same period of 2006). Moscow and
Yerevan confidently expect it to exceed $500 billion by the end of
the year.
Moscow remains Yerevan’s principal investment partner. Russia
invested sum total of $800 million in the Armenian national economy
these last fifteen years. The Russian-Armenian cooperation in the
energy sector, for example, stipulates investment of $500 million in
Armenia by Gazprom alone before 2008. Russian capitals are involved
in all sorts of projects in Armenia including development of the
Razdan Hydroelectric Power Plant, construction of a refinery,
modernization of railroads and transport infrastructure.
Establishment of the International Center for Uranium Enrichment in
Angarsk added momentum to the development of Russian-Armenian
cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Armenia became one of the
first countries to join the project. Russia and Armenia set up a
joint venture that will survey and develop uranium deposits in
Armenia.
Source: Rossiiskaya Gazeta, August 24, 2007, p. 2
Translated by A. Ignatkin
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
