RUSSIAN PREMIER: RUSSIA TO ACTIVATE ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-02-06 13:40:00

ArmInfo. Russia preserves status quo of the leading foreign economic
partner of Armenia and is going to activate economic cooperation in
future, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov which officially visited
Armenia said at today’s press-conference in Yerevan.

He also added that the main attention during today’s talks with
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan was drawn to development of
the economic cooperation. The talks were the logical continuation
of the recent meeting of Armenian and Russian premiers in Moscow,
Zubkov said and added that bilateral commodity circulation between
Russia and Armenia grew by 60% over the last two years. According
to the results of 2006 commodity circulation was more than $700
mln. "We think this is not an end and we shall soon reach $1 bln",-
Russian premier said. Moreover, Russia has become the main foreign
investor of Armenia and the volume of Russian investments in the
Armenian economy is assessed in $1 bln. "This is a serious argument
of our intentions to develop relations in the sphere of investments,
taking into account the fact that joint investment programmes are
successfully implemented and involve new branches", – he said. Zubkov
called prospective the cooperation in the sphere of nuclear energy,
diamonds production and telecommunications. He specially mentioned
cooperation in the sphere of railway transport. "I am sure that
organizing of a regular ferry crossing Kavkaz-Poti will directly
enrich our trade and economic relations", – he said and added that
the first lot of Armenian cement was successfully delivered to Russia
and is a competitive product at the Russian market.

Armenian cement, breakstone and other inert materials will have
good prospects in connection with Olympic facilities construction
in Sochi. He assured that strengthening of the Russian-Armenian
relations will first of all give a social effect for the citizens of
the two states.

He also said that as a result of today’s talks an agreement
was signed on improvement of the bilateral trade regime and on
development of cooperation in the sphere of information technologies
and communication. Moreover, the parties exchanged notes on making
of the inter-governmental agreement about Armenia’s participation in
the activity of international centre on uranium enrichment in Angarsk.

For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said that
the transport problem still remains the main problem that hinders
development of the trade and economic relations between Armenia and
Russia. He thinks that the fact of passing of the Armenian railway
to the Russian railways for concession management will much promote
this problem resolving. "We are going to deepen our trade and economic
relations more", – he said.