RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS HOLD TALKS IN THE WAKE OF TURKEY DECISION

EuroNews
April 23 2009

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has held talks with his Armenian
counterpart near Moscow.

But this was no walk in the park for either leader – both are embroiled
in a complex political situation.

Armenia wants to normalise relations with its neighbour, Turkey,
which experts say could upset the balance of political and economic
power in the east Caucasus.

"Lately several important steps have been taken. My latest contact,
today’s meeting with Serge Sarksyan and a recent meeting with the
President of Azerbaijan, confirm that both countries are ready to
act constructively to solve this very complicated problem."

Mevedev told reporters.

Turkey shut its frontier with Armenia sixteen years ago in solidarity
with Muslim Azerbaijan over its dispute with ethnic Armenian
separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan is potentially a key supplier of oil and gas to the West via
Turkey. Diplomats fear Baku may choose to offer its supplies to Russia
for re-export if relations with Turkey take a turn for the worse.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress