Friday, 28 September 2012
Tigran Sargsyan, Dmitry Medvedev Discuss Armenian-Russian Cooperation Development-Related Agenda
On September 28, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Yalta to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
Tigran Sargsyan noted that Armenia attaches great importance to the strengthening and expanding of elations with Russia.
”We are pleased with the dynamics of our relations, though we can see that there is greater potential to tap on,” Tigran Sargsyan said.
In turn, Dmitry Medvedev pointed to the growth of trade turnover between Armenia and Russia, and expressed satisfaction with the bilateral trade and economic relations.
”We are in constant dialogue at all levels. In this respect, we are doing well and the results are good as well. Commodity turnover being the main indicator, we understand that either quality is important, which is on the upgrade now,” Dmitry Medvedev stated. In his opinion, there is also some unused investment resource.
Tigran Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev have agreed that the Russian Federation will discuss with the European Union and the World Bank the possibility of Russia’s participation in the donors’ conference with a focus on the financing of Armenia’s priority projects. The Armenian Premier stressed the importance of this issue and received support from his Russian counterpart.
The heads of government have also discussed the issue of building a new nuclear power plant in Armenia. They drew a clear-cut roadmap to that effect.
Considering that the Russian side will take a share in the funding of the new nuclear plant, the parties talked about the financial scheme to be followed by Russia in this process and which way Armenia will repay its financial obligations after the plant has been built and commissioned. All the agencies concerned were told to discuss the proposal and clarify the mechanisms of nuclear power plant construction.
Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister have also referred to cooperation in diamond industry between the two countries. Whereas Armenia has already ratified the CIS free trade agreement, the parties looked at the possibility of easing some tax and customs requirements in this field. The Armenian side proposed to revise Russia’s 6.5% export tax on rough diamond as regards Armenia. In response, Dmitry Medvedev instructed relevant agencies to discuss the issue.
An agreement was reached to set up a working group headed by the two Ministers of Economy, which shall deal with Armenian-Russian economic cooperation-related issues.
