POLITICAL DIALOGUE ON THE RISE?

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[07:14 pm] 21 October, 2008

Yerevan had seriously prepared for the arrival of the high-ranking
Russian delegation. The Armenian and Russian flags waved to and fro
on the major streets of Yerevan leading to the airport. Parking was
prohibited on streets near the presidential residency and although
there was an NA session in progress, it was hard to say where the
deputies had hidden their big and expensive cars.

After the talks, the presidents held a joint press conference along
with the Russian delegation, including Defense Minister Anatoli
Serdiukov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Journalists from each
side had the right to ask two questions. But until then, the presidents
recapped the results of the talks.

"The political dialogue between both countries is on the rise and an
agreement has been made to coordinate foreign policies in the future,"
said Serzh Sargsian and added that the RA and RF Foreign Ministers
have already signed under the consultation plan for 2009-2010.

During the talks, the sides touched upon economic issues and recapped
the results of the 10th intergovernmental commission for economic
cooperation. Serzh Sargsian noted that it is necessary to deepen ties
with the CIS, the CSTO and other similar institutions.

Dmitri Medvedev liked the open-air hall for conferences in the
presidential residency and called it "fantastic". As far as the talks
are concerned, the Russian President was fully content. He informed
that Russia is surely the leader among its foreign economic partners
and during the past eight months, the country’s circulation of products
has grown and there is hope that the country will end the year with
high turnout. The Russian President highly valued the activities of
the intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation. At the end,
Medvedev expressed gratitude for the cordial reception and expressed
the hope that the next step for the talks will be at the federal
level with the aim to reinforce strategic ties.

"That’s exactly the way it is," concluded Serzh Sargsian.