MEDVEDEV HOPES TO CONTINUE FRUITFUL DIALOGUE WITH ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS
March 24 2008
Russia

MOSCOW, March 24 (Itar-Tass) – Russian president-elect Dmitry Medvedev
said he hopes to continue a fruitful dialogue with his Armenian
colleague Serzh Sarkisyan.

"I congratulate you on the victory in the presidential elections
in Armenia. We’re glad to welcome you in the Kremlin." "This is your
first visit after the presidential elections. We see a special symbol
in your visit – a symbol for strengthening Russian-Armenian relations,"
Medvedev stressed.

"I hope that under your leadership we’ll be able to continue our
relations in order to reach a high level in bilateral interaction,"
Medvedev said.

Sarkisyan noted that Armenia knew and respected the Russian
president-elect. "We hope that after you take office we’ll continue
to develop our traditional dialogue in order to strengthen bilateral
relations," the Armenian president-elect said.

In his words, Armenia "is ready to further develop cooperation with
Russia in all fields." "We’re ready to build up our relations on a
mutually advantageous base and develop cooperation in compliance with
the existing agreements," Sarkisyan said.

"In fact, let’s discuss what we’ll do for the future of
Russian-Armenian relations," Medvedev said.

During the meeting, Medvedev and Sarkisyan discussed a wide range
of issues related to bilateral cooperation, regional problems and
cooperation within the CIS, the CSTO, the OSCE and other international
organisations, the Armenian government’s press service reported
on Monday.

Medvedev and Sarkisyan expressed satisfaction with the present level
of Russian-Armenian economic cooperation. They stressed that economic
relations between the two countries were developing dynamically.

Russia ranks first among Armenia’s trade and economic partners and
the active work of the inter-governmental commission on economic
cooperation proves of this.