RUSSIA, ARMENIA MUST DEVELOP NOT JUST TRADE, BUT CULTURAL …

Interfax
Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
February 6, 2008

Russia and Armenia must develop their relations not only in the
trade and economic sectors, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
said at a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in Yerevan
on Wednesday.

"I would like to support Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan,
who said that our nations are getting closer. We must live not just
on trade, we must develop cultural and educational relations," Zubkov
said at talks with Kocharian.

"The Russian people do like Armenians a lot, we are going to develop
human contacts, and there is a lot that can be done about this.

we are very positive and we will develop our relations," the Russian
prime minister said.

As far as trade and the economy are concerned, the figures are quite
good, he said. "In the near future, we will make sure trade turnover
reaches $1 billion," Zubkov said.

"Chances are good [for Armenia] in securing contracts in building
Olympic facilities in Sochi," he said. "We would like to ask you to
make sure that your companies work well on this," Zubkov said.

Russia and Armenia must achieve trade turnover of at least $1 billion
turnover, the Russian prime minister said.

"$1 billion is the least we achieve," Zubkov said.

He relayed to Sargsyan President Vladimir Putin’s greetings and thanked
him on behalf of the Russian president for the dynamic development
of relations between the two countries. "The president wished you to
keep relations as they are and make them even better," Zubkov said.

Sargsyan, for his part, agreed that the two countries have a good
chances to develop their relations. Trade in 2007 soared 65%, though
it has yet to hit the $1-billion mark.

Trade between Armenia and Russia has reached $700 million, Sargsyan
said later at a press conference after the talks. "Soon we will pass
the threshold of one billion," he said.

"We talked with Mr. Zubkov about investment into Armenia," the Armenian
Prime Minister said.

It was noted at the meeting that the main area of Russian-Armenian
relations is transport, he said. An agreement has been signed on
a concession of the Armenian railways to the Russian railways,
Sargsyan said.

"This signing will affect the entire range of Armenian-Russian
relations, primarily, construction ahead of the Sochi Olympics,"
the Armenian Prime Minister said.

"Armenia is interested in friendship with Russia. And Russian capital
feels comfortable in Armenia," Sargsyan said. "We will continue to
strengthen our relations further," he added.

"We must also develop and expand our cultural ties, which requires
taking care of today’s relations," the Armenian Prime Minister said.