ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
August 23, 2007 Thursday

Presidents hail Russia-Armenia trade and economic ties

SOCHI August 23

The presidents of Russia and Armenia, Vladimir Putin and Robert
Kocharyan, hailed on Thursday progress in the development of trade
and economic relations and, in particular, investment cooperation
between the two countries, Putin’s aide Sergei Prikhodko told Tass.

"The meeting assessed high amounts of trade and economic cooperation
between Russia and Armenia," he noted. "In the first six months of
this year trade between the two countries grew 70 percent," Prikhodko
stressed.

"President Kocharyan highly appreciated a growing interest of the
Russian business in investing in his country," the Kremlin aide said.
"A high growth pace of the Russian economy and the economy of Armenia
make investment projects more attractive," he stressed.

"The energy sector and the development of the transport network are
also actively discussed," Prikhodko added.