Armenian President Meets His Russian Counterpart

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

Armenpress
Oct 30 2006

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenia Robert Kocharian,
who is in the Russian Federation on a working visit, had today
a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin. Greeting the visit of the Armenian president to Russia,
Vladimir Putin said he is pleased that frequent high-level visits
are taking place between the sides which promote development of
Russian-Armenian relations.

During the meeting Putin referred to the expansion of the
Armenian-Russian economic cooperation pointing out that only during
the eight months of the running year the trade turnover between the
two countries reached 278 million USD which is 60 percent more as
compared with the same span of the last year.

Nevertheless, he considered it shameful that Russia is only on the
third place in Armenia’s economy in respect of investments. "It is
strange and shameful that being Armenia’s strategic partner Russia
is not on the first place in respect of its investments in Armenia,"
Putin said, at the same time pointing out that there exists tendency
of increasing Russian investments in Armenia.

Robert Kocharian, on his part, noted that all the serious agreements
reached with "Gazprom" have entered the round of implementation. "So,
we may say that in the coming year the investments will notably
increase," Kocharian said. As a brilliant example of effective
bilateral cooperation the Armenian president pointed out to the
operation of modernized "Armenal" foil mill factory which has several
times increased the volume of its production.

During the meeting the Russian president also referred to the Year
of Armenia in Russia saying that it is being held in Russia quite
successively and is a natural continuation of the Year of Russia held
in Armenia. The two presidents also discussed a wide-range of issues
on bilateral relations and exchanged views over the international
and regional developments.

Tomorrow, on October 31, Armenian president will meet with the Russian
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. He
will also participate in the opening of the monument to world-famous
Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian.