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PUTIN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESS MEDIA AFTER TALKS - KREMLIN TRANSCRIPT
President of the Russian Federation website
Set 4 2013
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Sargsyan, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to note that as always, my talks with the President
of Armenia were conducted in a very business-oriented, constructive
and friendly atmosphere. They reflected the nature of our strategic
partnership relations.
I will note that we had a substantive discussion of all the main issues
of the Russian-Armenian cooperation, including, first and foremost,
prospects for further developing our economic ties.
The Russian side supports Armenia's decision to join the Customs Union
and engage in the Eurasian integration process and its formalisation.
We will assist this process in every possible way. I am confident that
Yerevan's participation in the Eurasian integration institutions will
give a big boost to mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
Russia is Armenia's leading trade and economic partner. Last year,
our turnover grew by 22 per cent, exceeding 1.2bn dollars. We managed
to maintain the same trend this year. In January-May of this year,
we registered an additional 13 per cent growth in trade.
Moreover, we have achieved high investment figures. The volume of
accumulated Russian capital investment is over 3bn dollars. This
accounts for nearly half of all foreign investments in Armenia's
economy.
There are approximately 1,300 Russian companies operating in Armenia,
and they make up more than 25 per cent of all joint ventures with
foreign participation. They operate in a wide range of sectors,
including gas, nuclear and hydropower, transport, telecommunications
and finance.
The major projects include Gazprom's participation in the construction
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Inter RAO UES's work to renew the
Sevan-Hrazdan cascade HPP [hydroelectric power plant], and continued
cooperation in the nuclear sector. Rosatom experts reached an agreement
with Armenian specialists to focus their efforts on implementing a
project to extend the operation of the Armenian nuclear power plant
by ten years.
Anticipated investments by Russian Railways in developing the Armenian
railway network may be as high as R15bn [approximately 500m dollars].
Partners in the banking sector, including Russia's Vneshtorgbank and
Gazprombank, are also broadening their cooperation.
Interregional ties play a key role as well. More than 70 Russian
regions are engaged in this cooperation. The third Russian-Armenian
Interregional Forum will be held in October 2013.
We intend to continue promoting cooperation in culture and encouraging
scientific contacts, student exchanges and, of course, youth exchanges
in general.
We are developing an initiative to create a Russian-language magnet
school and open a Moscow State University branch in Yerevan. We have
proven experience in the field of education and we will certainly
use it - I am referring to the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University
and branches of six Russian university that have opened in Armenia,
which are educating over two thousand students.
Naturally, we also focused on international problems. And, of course,
we also discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement.
I want to once again thank Mr Sargsyan and all our Armenian friends
and partners for a productive, sincere conversation. Thank you for
accepting our invitation and coming to Moscow.
PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN: Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to Mr Putin for this open,
trust-based atmosphere. We just completed talks and reached agreements
aimed at further developing Armenian-Russian relations.
As you just heard, the President of the Russian Federation and
I discussed the main issues pertaining to the allied interaction
between our nations in the political, trade and economic, energy,
military technology, humanitarian and other sectors, in the typically
constructive tone of our relations.
Naturally, we discussed regional affairs and the Nagornyy Karabakh
peace settlement; I once again confirmed Armenia's readiness to resolve
the conflict solely by peaceful means based on the integral principles
of equal rights and the peoples' right to self-determination, non-use
of force or threat of force, and national territorial integrity.
I re-confirmed our readiness to continue looking for solutions to end
the crisis based on the settlement principles and elements reflected
in the joint statements by the presidents of Russia, the United States
and France.
One of the main topics in our talks today was the need for
infrastructure transformations in Armenia, modernization and
diversification of our economy, which features a large number of
Russia enterprises.
We had a detailed discussion on potential areas for cooperation to
broaden the horizons of our joint work, for example, in the military
technology and fuel and energy sectors, including cooperation in
nuclear energy, transport and supply lines.
We also had a substantive exchange of views on Eurasian integration
issues, and I confirmed Armenia's desire to join the Customs Union and
get involved in the process of creating the Eurasian Economic Union.
Twenty years ago, Armenia built its military security system within
the Collective Security Treaty format, in partnership with Russia
and several other CIS nations. Over the last decades, the system has
proven its viability and efficacy.
Now, our CSTO partners are creating a new platform for economic
cooperation. I have stated on many occasions that since we share
a system of military security, it is impossible and inefficient to
isolate ourselves from the corresponding geo-economical space. This
is a rational decision; it is a decision based on Armenia's national
interests. This decision is not a rejection of our dialogue with
European institutions.
Over the years, Armenia has undergone many serious infrastructure
reforms with support from European partners. And in this respect,
today's Armenia is a much more productive and competitive state than
it was several years ago. We are determined to continue these reforms
into the future.
Ladies and gentlemen, the results of our talks are reflected in the
joint statements that the President of Russia and I just signed. I am
confident that implementing all our agreements will give our strategic
allied partnership new momentum.
Thank you, Mr Putin, for your warm welcome and for our agreements.
From: Baghdasarian
President of the Russian Federation website
Set 4 2013
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr Sargsyan, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to note that as always, my talks with the President
of Armenia were conducted in a very business-oriented, constructive
and friendly atmosphere. They reflected the nature of our strategic
partnership relations.
I will note that we had a substantive discussion of all the main issues
of the Russian-Armenian cooperation, including, first and foremost,
prospects for further developing our economic ties.
The Russian side supports Armenia's decision to join the Customs Union
and engage in the Eurasian integration process and its formalisation.
We will assist this process in every possible way. I am confident that
Yerevan's participation in the Eurasian integration institutions will
give a big boost to mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
Russia is Armenia's leading trade and economic partner. Last year,
our turnover grew by 22 per cent, exceeding 1.2bn dollars. We managed
to maintain the same trend this year. In January-May of this year,
we registered an additional 13 per cent growth in trade.
Moreover, we have achieved high investment figures. The volume of
accumulated Russian capital investment is over 3bn dollars. This
accounts for nearly half of all foreign investments in Armenia's
economy.
There are approximately 1,300 Russian companies operating in Armenia,
and they make up more than 25 per cent of all joint ventures with
foreign participation. They operate in a wide range of sectors,
including gas, nuclear and hydropower, transport, telecommunications
and finance.
The major projects include Gazprom's participation in the construction
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Inter RAO UES's work to renew the
Sevan-Hrazdan cascade HPP [hydroelectric power plant], and continued
cooperation in the nuclear sector. Rosatom experts reached an agreement
with Armenian specialists to focus their efforts on implementing a
project to extend the operation of the Armenian nuclear power plant
by ten years.
Anticipated investments by Russian Railways in developing the Armenian
railway network may be as high as R15bn [approximately 500m dollars].
Partners in the banking sector, including Russia's Vneshtorgbank and
Gazprombank, are also broadening their cooperation.
Interregional ties play a key role as well. More than 70 Russian
regions are engaged in this cooperation. The third Russian-Armenian
Interregional Forum will be held in October 2013.
We intend to continue promoting cooperation in culture and encouraging
scientific contacts, student exchanges and, of course, youth exchanges
in general.
We are developing an initiative to create a Russian-language magnet
school and open a Moscow State University branch in Yerevan. We have
proven experience in the field of education and we will certainly
use it - I am referring to the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University
and branches of six Russian university that have opened in Armenia,
which are educating over two thousand students.
Naturally, we also focused on international problems. And, of course,
we also discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement.
I want to once again thank Mr Sargsyan and all our Armenian friends
and partners for a productive, sincere conversation. Thank you for
accepting our invitation and coming to Moscow.
PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN: Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to Mr Putin for this open,
trust-based atmosphere. We just completed talks and reached agreements
aimed at further developing Armenian-Russian relations.
As you just heard, the President of the Russian Federation and
I discussed the main issues pertaining to the allied interaction
between our nations in the political, trade and economic, energy,
military technology, humanitarian and other sectors, in the typically
constructive tone of our relations.
Naturally, we discussed regional affairs and the Nagornyy Karabakh
peace settlement; I once again confirmed Armenia's readiness to resolve
the conflict solely by peaceful means based on the integral principles
of equal rights and the peoples' right to self-determination, non-use
of force or threat of force, and national territorial integrity.
I re-confirmed our readiness to continue looking for solutions to end
the crisis based on the settlement principles and elements reflected
in the joint statements by the presidents of Russia, the United States
and France.
One of the main topics in our talks today was the need for
infrastructure transformations in Armenia, modernization and
diversification of our economy, which features a large number of
Russia enterprises.
We had a detailed discussion on potential areas for cooperation to
broaden the horizons of our joint work, for example, in the military
technology and fuel and energy sectors, including cooperation in
nuclear energy, transport and supply lines.
We also had a substantive exchange of views on Eurasian integration
issues, and I confirmed Armenia's desire to join the Customs Union and
get involved in the process of creating the Eurasian Economic Union.
Twenty years ago, Armenia built its military security system within
the Collective Security Treaty format, in partnership with Russia
and several other CIS nations. Over the last decades, the system has
proven its viability and efficacy.
Now, our CSTO partners are creating a new platform for economic
cooperation. I have stated on many occasions that since we share
a system of military security, it is impossible and inefficient to
isolate ourselves from the corresponding geo-economical space. This
is a rational decision; it is a decision based on Armenia's national
interests. This decision is not a rejection of our dialogue with
European institutions.
Over the years, Armenia has undergone many serious infrastructure
reforms with support from European partners. And in this respect,
today's Armenia is a much more productive and competitive state than
it was several years ago. We are determined to continue these reforms
into the future.
Ladies and gentlemen, the results of our talks are reflected in the
joint statements that the President of Russia and I just signed. I am
confident that implementing all our agreements will give our strategic
allied partnership new momentum.
Thank you, Mr Putin, for your warm welcome and for our agreements.
From: Baghdasarian