RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER DISCUSS BOOSTING COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
Feb 06 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Serzh
Sarkisian received today his Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov whoa
arrived here Tuesday evening. The government press office said Zubkov
conveyed to Sarkisian cordial greetings from the Russian president.

"He (Vladimir Putin) asked to convey to you the gratitude for visiting
our country in September 2007, as well as for the fact that our
relations are developing so dynamically," he said.

According to Zubkov, president Vladimir Putin wished good health to
Sarkisian and would like Russian-Armenian relations to develop the
way they are developing now, or even better.

Later speaking at a news conference Zubkov said Russian and Armenian
government officials discussed a variety of questions in an expanded
format and outlined a new plan of actions for the future.

He said Russia and Armenia "have good prospects for a further
development of cooperation,’ adding that both countries will try
to expand their trade this year from the current $700 million to
$1 billion.

The Armenian prime minister said there is a good basis for both
countries to enhance their multilateral relations. He, particularly,
pointed out that the trade last year rose 65 percent to exceed $700
million.

He said Armenia is selling now more products, including agricultural
goods, in Russia. Russian investments in Armenian economy in 2007 made
$175 million. Overall Russia has invested in Armenia over $1 billion,
largely into energy, transport, communications and industrial sectors.

Serzh Sarkisian said a special focus in the talks was on issues
hindering further increase in trade and expressed hope that handing
the Armenian Railways to a concessional management of the Russian
Railway company will help eliminate part of these transport-related
obstacles. He said Armenia is set to become a supplier of building
materials for Russian Sochi that will host the 2014 Winter Olympic
Games.