RUSSIA IS MAKING ENERGY AGREEMENTS WITH ARMENIA
Russia-InfoCenter, Russia
Feb 6 2008
Russian premier minister Viktor Zubkov is to make an official visit to
Armenia on 5-6 February at the invitation of his counterpart Serge
Sarkisyan. During the visit Russian premier is to meet Armenian
president Robert Kocharyan.
Though Russia is to elect a new president on 2 March and Armenia on
19 February, both countries are to preserve concession of political
power what means that the dialogue between two counties is to be
continued and developed.
Economic cooperation is to be in the center of the negotiations this
time, further development of Russian -Armenian trade-economic and
investment cooperation in particular. Russian-Armenian trade index
has grown on 60 % for the last two years. Both Russian export and
import have increased. The turnover between two countries was more
than $0,7 billiards in 2007.
Russian premier points out the high tempo of investment cooperation.
Russian companies invested in Armenian economy about $175 million
in 2007, $100 million out of them were direct investments. The total
sum of Russian investments in Armenia has amounted to $1 billiards.
The prime-ministers are to discuss energy cooperation of two countries
which remains the priority brunch of economic partnership.
It should be noticed that Russian companies Gasprom, RAO EES, Russian
Railways, diamond producing company ALROSA, RUSAL, Sistema, Vympelcom,
Bank VTB. Russia satisfies all Armenian demands in gas, the supply
agreements are sighed up to 2009.
At the moment Russia and Armenia are considering Armenia’s proposal of
building an oilprocessing plant on its territory with Russia and Iran’s
assist. The discussion is at the very start and lots of questions touch
oil supply point. One of the spheres of Russian-Armenian cooperation
is the electric power industry. Armenia is a country with overabundant
energy; it can export its energy to other countries. The energy sector
has been restored for the inner usage.
At that Russian Gasprom is interested in completing the building
of the fifth block of Razdan Thermal Power Plant. The four working
blocks of this plan are owned by Russia.
As for nuclear energy cooperation Russia is fulfilling its entire
obligations on a long-tern contract on nuclear power supplies for an
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.
The prime ministers are likely to sign bilateral agreements on
cooperation in nuclear energy sphere.
The progressive development of Russian-Armenian economic cooperation
is restrained by transport factor. The problem can be improved with
launching a regular railway-ferry between the port Kavkaz and the
port Poty (Georgia). In January the Russian Railways has obtained
concession on the company Armenian Railways.
The two sides are expected to sign a protocol on changing a bilateral
agreement on free trade from 30 September 1992. The document is to
meet the WTO norms and requirements.
The sides are to sign an agreement in the sphere of information
technologies, post office and electronic connection.
The Russian delegation headed by Mr. Zubkov is made up of about 20
officials from federal administration and heads of large companies.
The Russian prime-minister is to visit the memorial complex
Tsitsernakaberd, which is dedicated to the victims of Armenian Genocide
and located overlooking Yerevan.
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