PUTIN MEETS SERZH SARKISYAN

ITAR-TASS
March 24 2008
Russia

MOSCOW, March 24 (Itar-Tass) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has
met Armenian president-elect Serzh Sarkisyan.

This is Sarkisyan’s first visit to Russia after his victory in the
presidential elections in Armenia.

Putin and Sarkisyan knew each other long ago: they had their first
meeting in the summer 2000 when Sarkisyan arrived in Moscow as defence
minister. Sarkisyan took part in high-level talks with Russian leaders
several times.

Earlier, Sarkisyan conferred with Russian president-elect Dmitry
Medvedev. 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.

The Russian-Armenian talks will focus on world and regional problems,
in particular in light of Armenia’s future chairmanship in the CSTO,
as well as on security, economic and investment interaction, including
in the energy sector. "Intensive and fruitful contacts show Russia’s
and Armenia’ s interests in ensuring the continuity of the policy
towards further development of mutually advantageous ally partnership
in all spheres," a high-ranking Kremlin official said.

"The sides are expected to discuss key international issues, prospects
for further strengthening of interaction within regional within
regional integration associations, including due to Armenia’s upcoming
chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation," he said.

"The high level of cooperation with Armenia in military,
military-technical and border fields play a significant role in
ensuring stability and security in Transcaucasia," the official
stressed.

He noted, "Trade turnover between Russia and Armenia may really reach
one billion U.S. dollars. Russian investments in Armenia’s economy
are also amounting to one billion U.S. dollars."

"Russian investors take part in such sectors as banking,
telecommunications, transport. They also realise successful projects
in the fuel and energy sector, including a gas pipeline, which links
Armenia and Iran," the official said.

"Such Russian companies as Gazprom, RAO EES Rossii, RZhD, VTB,
Gazprombank, Russian Aluminium, Vympelcom work successfully on the
Russian market. ALROSA, LUKOIL, AFK Sistema also have promising
projects," he recalled.

Moscow and Yerevan rivet much attention to expanding interaction in
nuclear power engineering, including the safe service of the Armenian
nuclear power plant, geological surveying and the geology of uranium
deposits. "Russian organisations meet Armenia’s needs in fresh nuclear
fuel," the official stressed. "Both sides are completing the procedure
for Yerevan’s joining the International Uranium Enrichment Centre in
Angarsk," the expert said.

Moscow also notes progress in solving the problem of Armenia’s
transport links. "New prospects will be opened when a railway ferry
between the port of Kavkaz and the port of Potin begins operating,"
the official said.