VLADIMIR PUTIN: OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER COVERED ALL TOPICS OF OUR COOPERATION IN ALL DIRECTIONS

ArmInfo
2008-12-05 19:59:00

ArmInfo. "Russian investments, the accrued volume of which amounts
to 1.6 bln USD, is a significant factor of recovery of Armenia’s
economy",- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a joint
briefing with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The Russian governmental press-service quotes Putin as saying:
"Today we touched upon all topics of our cooperation in all
directions. Certainly, the issues of cooperation in the economic
sphere were the main direction".

According to him, in 2008 experts point out a good dynamics in the
bilateral trade and economic ties, the commodity turnover is steadily
growing, in 2007 it increased by almost 17%. Putin qualified expansion
of the activity of such large Russian companies as Gazprom, INTER RAO
UES, Russian Railways, as well as some Russian banks, particularly,
VTB in Armenia as quite useful.

Good prospects for joint projects are opening in such spheres
as color metallurgy, transport, construction, banking sphere and
information technology, he said. Putin stressed that the issues of
further promotion of bilateral economic ties are in the focus of the
Russian-Armenian inter-governmental commission’s attention. "I should
add that during the negotiations we assessed its work positively",-
he said and added that the cooperation will be developed. Putin said
that he also discussed with Tigran Sargsyan the further joint steps
in the trade and economic sphere.

"Certainly, we also spoke on problems related to the global
financial crisis which anyhow affects our countries",- Putin said. He
stressed that the Russian party is content with the course of Dec
5 negotiations.

According to the National Statistical Service, in Jan-Oct 2008
Armenia’s foreign trade turnover with Russia grew by 19,2% to
$866,2 mln.