COOPERATION OF ARMENIA AND RUSSIA EXPANDS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 5, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving on February 5 First Deputy
Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan expressed satisfaction with Armenian-Russian relations both
in the bilateral and multilateral formats. I. Shuvalov attached
importance to issues of cooperation in bilateral relations and
within the framework of CIS, pointing out cooperation in the sphere
of science and innovation.

The sides discussed issues of bilteral importance, including the events
to mark the 65th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic
War. Given the fact that in the CIS, 2010 has been announced a year
of science and innovation, the interlocutors also touched upon issues
related to joint measures. In particular, it was mentioned that joint
studies are already being conducted in biochemistry, neurochemistry,
molecular biology, medical genetics, chemical physics and other fields.

The prospects of developing nuclear medicine in Armenia and opening an
Armenian-Russian innovation center were also discussed. Tigran Sargsyan
underlined that the government gives priority to the development of
high technologies, and the existence of established traditions allows
promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. In his words, despite the
economic crisis, Armenia has fulfilled its obligations to the CIS,
including financial investments made ahead of the schedule. Measures
are being taken to implement the first stage of the CIS economic
development strategy.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
sides also discussed problems related to work of Russian companies in
Armenia as well as cooperation in energy, transport and other sectors.