RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS-ELECT VOW TO ENHANCE TIES, BOOST CO-OP
Yan Liang

Xinhua

March 24 2008
China

MOSCOW, March 24 (Xinhua) — The Russian and Armenian presidents-elect,
Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan, pledged Monday to enhance bilateral
relations and further cooperation, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"Armenia is ready to continue developing relations with Russia in
every direction," said Sargsyan, who met with Medvedev Monday in the
Kremlin during his visit to Moscow.

This is Sargsyan’s first foreign visit after winning the presidential
election on Feb. 19. He will also meet Russian President Vladimir
Putin and Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov.

"We hope that after the inauguration, we will be able to continue
the traditional dialogue aimed at the consolidation of our ties,"
said Sargsyan.

"We are ready to build relations on the basis of the existing
arrangements and develop cooperation," said Medvedev, suggesting
that the two sides should discuss now what they will be doing for
the future of Russian-Armenian relations.

The intensity and fruitfulness of contacts confirms the interest
of both sides to ensure the continued development of the mutually
beneficial partnership between Moscow and Yerevan, Itar-Tass reported,
citing a high-ranking Kremlin source.

"The accumulated amount of Russian investment in Armenia’s national
economy has approached the important frontier of 1 billion U.S. dollars
in 2007," the source said.