SERGEY LAVROV: RUSSIA IS READY TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS

NoyanTapan
Jan 14, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s
visit to Armenia is the first visit of a high-ranking guest to Armenia
in the new year which is symbolic and corresponds to the high level
of relations between the two countries. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian declared at the end of the RF and RA Foreign Ministers’
January 14 meeting in Yerevan. He informed the journalists that
the meeting with his Russian counterpart proceeded in conditions of
complete mutual understanding, it was "constructive and efficient."

The bilateral relations, a number of regional, international issues
were discussed at the meeting.

S. Lavrov also mentioned that his visit to Yerevan is his first
planned meeting abroad which is symbolic: Armenia is Russia’s strategic
partner, ally, and the two countries’ relations completely correspond
to these notions. Meanwhile he refuted the rumors that RF Foreign
Minister’s visit is connected with Turkish Prime Minister’s visit to
Moscow. The latter is not connected, either, with RA and RF Defence
Ministers’ meeting proceeding in Moscow.

The RF Foreign Minister added that it was recorded at his meeting
with the RA Foreign Minister that the EurAsEC Anti-crisis Fund is
already ready to work: the agreement on its creation was ratified
by seven states wishing to take part in it, including Armenia. The
process of military-technical cooperation was also discussed, which,
according to S. Lavrov, develops very successfully. The RF Foreign
Minister also expressed satisfaction with the opening of the Russian
language teaching and methodological center last month in Yerevan
within the framework of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and
opening of a center for innovation technologies planned this month. It
was mentioned that Russia will provide assistance to Armenia in any
way possible in the issue of founding a diplomatic academy under the
RA Foreign Ministry.

The Russian side expressed gratitude to Armenia for supporting Russia’s
approaches in the issue of European Security Treaty. "We will continue
coordinating our actions in this issue," S. Lavrov said adding: "Issues
of regional security, including the Nagorno Karabakh settlement,
are on our agenda. We will provide active support in the issue of
looking for consent between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in particular,
in issues discussed within the framework of the meetings of the two
countries’ Presidents."

Issues regarding RA’s and RF’s relations with the European Union
and NATO were also discussed at the RA and RF Foreign Ministers’
Yerevan meeting.

In response to the question on the ratification process of
Armenian-Turkish protocols E. Nalbandian mentioned: "Just as the
international community I would not like, either, to have an impression
that Turkey deliberately delays the ratification process."

And Armenia, according to him, fulfills its commitments.

S. Lavrov, in his turn, emphasized that Russia is ready to assist the
Armenian-Turkish process through implementation of infrastructural
projects, and both Armenia and Turkey are interested in it. For
instance, it can be electricity supply, railway communication. S.

Lavrov also emphasized that Russia sees no connection between the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process: "Both processes deserve support but it is not
right to put forward artificial conditions," he said.