LAVROV SATISFIED WITH HIGH LEVEL OF RUSSIA-ARMENIA RELATIONS
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 4, 2007 Wednesday
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "is satisfied with a high level
of relations between Russia and Armenia and effective cooperation
in international organisations." The Russian minister gave this
judgment to Russian-Armenian relations, summing up the results of the
negotiations with the Armenian leadership. Lavrov rounded off his visit
to Armenia on Wednesday and went on a working trip to Turkmenistan.
Upon arrival in Yerevan on Tuesday, the Russian foreign minister
held talks with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan and met
with President Robert Kocharyan on Wednesday. The visit of the
Russian minister is timed to the 15th anniversary of establishing
diplomatic relations between the two countries. The sides "stated with
satisfaction a growing dynamics of political dialogue, intensification
of trade and economic cooperation, noticeable progress in humanitarian
and interregional relations." The talks focused on the implementation
of the agreements the presidents of Russia and Armenia reached during
the Sochi summit last January.
The sides praised highly "the current level of bilateral cooperation in
all directions, which creates possibilities for expanding partnership,
and noted a high level of cooperation within the framework of the CIS
and the CSTO." During the negotiations a special emphasis was laid on
"improving bilateral cooperation within the framework of universal
and regional international organisations, particularly the UN, OSCE
and the Council of Europe."
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was given priority at the meeting between
the foreign ministers of Russia and Armenia. "The conflict pretends
to be called unique, as in the practical aspect the interests of
the United States, Russia and the European Union do not contradict
each other, and with the conflicting parties as well," Lavrov
emphasized. "The Minsk OSCE Group has drafted a concrete project,
which allows for loosing the knot, but the final say is with the
leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan." "We praise highly the efforts
the sides are taking to settle the conflict," the Russian minister
remarked. "Russia will be ready to act as a guarantor of agreements,"
Lavrov indicated. The ministers "noted the importance of continued
coordinated efforts to counteract international terrorism, transborder
organized crimes and other modern challenges and threats."
The sides "expressed mutual interests in further broadening of
Russian-Armenian multifaceted and mutually beneficial partnership,
which promotes the development of integration processes in the CIS
states, acts as a substantial factor of maintaining peace and stability
in the Caucasus."
In Yerevan the Russian foreign minister visited the memorial to the
victims of genocide in Armenia. Lavrov laid down a wreath of flowers
to the memorial and planted a fir tree on the alley of honorary
guests. On Wednesday, the Russian minister spoke for students and
professors of the Yerevan State University, met with Catholicos of
the Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II, and had a meeting with
Russian compatriots living in the republic.
The Russian foreign minister left for Ashgabat after his Armenian
visit. During his visit to Turkmenistan Sergei Lavrov is expected
to meet with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and his
Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov.