Friday, 5 April 2019
Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission Holds 19th Session in Moscow
The 19th regular session of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held on April 4, 2019, presided at by Commission Co-Chairs RA Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and RF Minister of Transport Yevgeny Dietrich. In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, the Armenian side was represented by Education and Science Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Hakob Arshakyan, and First Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Garegin Baghramyan.
To begin with, the Co-Chairs noted that the decisions passed at the previous session were implemented as a whole owing to the efforts made by the relevant departments of the two countries. The intergovernmental commission discussed the development opportunities of bilateral cooperation in the spheres of high technologies, radio-electronic industry, transport, food safety, healthcare, education and science.
The Co-Chairs emphasized that particular attention should be paid to tourism, which is a key vector of the Armenian-Russian economic and humanitarian cooperation. In this context, the 2019-2021 Cooperation Action Plan as signed between the relevant government departments was highlighted on both sides. Pleased with the positive dynamics of mutual trade between Armenia and Russia, the Co-Chairs assured that the parties would continue to do joint work to expand cooperation. The trade turnover amounted to USD 2 billion in 2018, 11.2 percent up as compared to 2017.
Both sides highlighted the idea of establishing an Armenian-Russian business council, which would promote the deepening of effective cooperation between the business communities of the two countries and might serve as a platform for discussion of topical issues. An agreement has been reached that the institution of deputy co-chairs will be set up to represent the respective business communities
Welcoming the agreement on launching an Armenian-Russian investment fund in the sphere of high technologies, both sides stressed the role of the Eurasian Development Bank in this process.
The Co-Chairs attached special importance to the development of interregional cooperation and the organization of the annual Armenian-Russian interregional forum in that process.
As a result of negotiations, the Russian side promised to facilitate the teaching of the Armenian as a native language and a compulsory subject for Armenian students in Russia’s general schools. An agreement was reached that the Russian Ministry of Education, the relevant authorities and the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia would promote the teaching of the Armenian language in Russia’s educational institutions located at Armenian-populated regions as a native language and a mandatory subject.
The Russian side advised that an Upper Lars reconstruction project is due to be implemented in 2019-2021 with a view to increasing the capacity of the Upper Lars border checkpoint.
Reference was also made to natural gas supplies to Armenia, In this context, the sides highlighted the need to elaborate a sustainable and predictable mechanism of gas price formation at Armenia’s State border.
The meeting decided that the Russian side will take steps to allow labor migrants to amend the purpose specified in their migration cards without having to leave the host country. According to the agreement, the Russian side will also carry out work to accelerate the legislative process for recognition of Armenian driving licenses during employment.
