Armenian, Russian presidents highly appreciate relations between their countries

YEREVAN, August 23. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin highly appreciated relations between the two countries as met Thursday in Sochi, Russia, Armenian Public Television reports. 

“Such meetings have already become traditional, but today’s meeting is a special, since the basic document – the cooperation and mutual assistance agreement signed by Armenia and Russia – turns ten-year now”, Putin said at the meeting.
The Russian head of state placed it on record that Armenian-Russian relations are increasingly developing, trade turnover between the countries is growing and military and political cooperation is rising to a higher level. 

Putin also added that Russian investments are expected to reach $1.5bln in 2007.
Kocharyan, in his turn, thanked the Russian leader for the meeting saying that Armenian-Russian ties are becoming closer and growing in all directions.

“Trade turnover is growing as well as military, technical and political cooperation. This is normal, since the process of relationship buildup is going on. We are ready to promote this process at the highest level”, Kocharyan said.  

Kocharyan’s this visit is second in 2007.

The presidents will also discuss business relationship prospects and the implementation of the projects with Russian participation in Armenia. Cooperation in energy area is among them. More than $500mln is planned to be invested in Armenian energy sector over a period between 2006 and 2008 as part of this cooperation. M.V.-0---