GAS FOCUS OF RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TALKS

United Press International
April 23 2009

MOSCOW, April 23 (UPI) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with
his Armenian counterpart Thursday for talks on broader trade relations
in the energy sector amid regional concerns.

Medvedev welcomed Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to discuss
bilateral trade relations and efforts to overcome the global economic
recession.

Russia meets all of Armenia’s gas demand currently. Iran and Armenia
moved recently on a pipeline to exchange gas for electricity, but
Armenian officials say that will not impact the gas relationship
with Russia.

The Russian energy company Gazprom raised its stake in the joint
ArmRosGazprom to 80 percent in March. RIA Novosti reported Thursday
the talks between both countries will focus on energy and economic
cooperation.

In February, Russia offered Armenia a $500 million economic
stimulus package to prop up the domestic economy during the global
recession. Trade between both countries in 2008 rose 9.5 percent
compared with the previous year.

Both leaders will also address the regional disputes over the
Nagorno-Karabakh district in Azerbaijan. Disputes between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh turned violent during the early
1990s. Despite a cease-fire agreement reached in 1994, the situation
remains tense.