AND THEY SPOKE FOR A LONG TIME

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25-03-2005

The today’s meeting Kocharyan-Putin lasted longer than anticipated.
The journalists waited for the Presidents for about two hours.

The press conference anticipated at 11.30 a.m. started at 1:30 p.m.
Robert Kocharyan informed that the meeting took place in a friendly
atmosphere, and the length of the conversation was conditioned by
the wide range of themed for discussion – political, economical,
cultural and other issues. The main stress was put at the necessity
of boosting investment programs.

RF President Vladimir Putin thanked Robert Kocharyan for the invitation
and for the friendly conversation. He noted that the negotiations
were very fruitful and immediately voiced hope that the Russian days
in Armenia will pass actively and all the 200 events will be realized.

The RF President found the enhancing of mutual trust important. Also he
mentioned the importance of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of
the victory in the Great Patriotic War, and said the two nations must
celebrate it together. On this occasion on March 8 Robert Kocharyan
will leave for Moscow.

There has also been a reference to the Karabakh conflict; Vladimir
Putin informed that they will do everything possible to settle the
conflict, but he sets hope on the meetings and negotiations between
the two Presidents.

By the way, Vladimir Putin noted that today the Russian-Azerbaijani
relations in the CIS frames have been discussed. Possibly he meant
the Russian-Armenian relations, and it was a slip of the tongue.