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Russian, Armenian Leaders To Talk Trade, Energy, Caucasus

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  • Russian, Armenian Leaders To Talk Trade, Energy, Caucasus

    RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN LEADERS TO TALK TRADE, ENERGY, CAUCASUS

    RIA Novosti
    09:58 | 21/ 10/ 2008

    MOSCOW, October 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
    will discuss trade, energy and conflict in the South Caucasus with
    his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargisyan, at talks in Armenia on
    October 21, a Kremlin official said.

    Bilateral trade grew 13%, year-on-year, in the first eight months of
    2008 to reach $536.5 million, the Kremlin said earlier. Russia is a
    leading trade partner of Armenia and is one of the biggest investors
    in the country's economy, with accrued investment from Russia topping
    $1.6 billion from 1991 to July 1, 2008.

    The parties will also focus on joint energy projects and the industrial
    development of uranium deposits in Armenia, the official said earlier.

    At their talks in the capital Yerevan, the presidents will also discuss
    the situation in the South Caucasus following Russia's brief war with
    Georgia, and other pressing international issues.

    Russia recognized South Ossetia along with Georgia's other breakaway
    region Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, after it forced
    out Georgian troops that had tried to retake control of South
    Ossetia. Tensions remain high in the region, and Georgia continues
    to demand that Russia withdraw its troops from the two republics.

    In September Armenia and other countries in the post-Soviet alliance
    Commonwealth of Independent States announced their support for Russia
    over its conflict with Georgia, but stopped short of recognizing the
    two provinces.

    Ex-Soviet Armenia is itself locked in a bitter territorial conflict
    with Azerbaijan.

    Armenia receives most of its gas from Russia.

    The tiny Caucasus nation has high unemployment and widespread
    poverty. Its economic problems are aggravated by a trade embargo,
    imposed by neighboring Turkey and ex-Soviet Azerbaijan since the
    dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.

    Russia has a military base in Gyumri in Armenia.
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