PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN MEETS WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN
premier.gov.ru
Nov 17 2010
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Sargsyan, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. I know
that you have come here to attend festivities, but I'm happy to have
this opportunity to meet with you and discuss the development of our
relations, above all in the economy.
Russia has long been Armenia's leading trade and economic partner,
and I will not spend much time talking about our trade. It stands at
a good level. Unfortunately, it declined a bit in 2009 as a result of
the crisis, but it has been recovering rapidly. Even in 2009, Russian
direct investment in Armenia's economy increased, and currently stands
at about USD 3 billion, USD 2.8 billion to be exact. It means that
in 2009 it increased by USD 500 million. Last summer, in June if I'm
not mistaken, we also issued an additional government loan of USD 500
million to Armenia. We hope that this loan helped and was received in
good time in order to create stability in the social sphere and the
economy. Russia's largest companies are working actively in Armenia's
market. And we are thankful to you and the Armenian government for
creating favourable conditions for this work and for this cooperation.
I'm glad to see you here. Welcome!
Serzh Sargsyan: Thank you, Mr Putin. I, too, am glad to have this
chance to meet today. I am pleased to say that the Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership is developing stably. Russia remains Armenia's
leading trade and economic partner. You correctly noted that our
bilateral trade has risen 12% this year. Last year we received over
500 million in investments. This year we receive investments, too. Our
long-standing economic ties are also reinforced by the projects that
we are currently implementing. I'm referring to the construction of a
new unit at the Metsamorskaya nuclear power plant and the modernisation
and expansion of our railway system. There have been large, long-term
investments in the communications sector. We are developing very well.
I would like to thank you once again for granting us the government
loan. Without this money, we probably would not have been able to
recover this year. And we have been recovering this year. At the same
time, just like Russia, our agriculture has been facing hard times
due to the weather. While our industrial growth is about 10%, we are
experiencing a decline of between 17% and 18% in agriculture. But we
sincerely hope that in cooperation with Russia - seeing as our main
enterprises are either joint ventures with Russia or funded entirely
by Russian capital - we will recover from the crisis. Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Sargsyan, while we are also experiencing serious
difficulties in our agricultural industry this year due to the weather,
we have nevertheless responded to the call of our Armenian friends
and delivered 1,000 tonnes of wheat seeds to Armenia this September
so that fields can be sowed in time and yield a good harvest next
year. We are prepared to continue our cooperation in this area.
We are aware of Armenia's needs and will continue coordinating all
these issuesl.
Serzh Sargsyan: Thank you very much.
From: A. Papazian
premier.gov.ru
Nov 17 2010
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Sargsyan, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. I know
that you have come here to attend festivities, but I'm happy to have
this opportunity to meet with you and discuss the development of our
relations, above all in the economy.
Russia has long been Armenia's leading trade and economic partner,
and I will not spend much time talking about our trade. It stands at
a good level. Unfortunately, it declined a bit in 2009 as a result of
the crisis, but it has been recovering rapidly. Even in 2009, Russian
direct investment in Armenia's economy increased, and currently stands
at about USD 3 billion, USD 2.8 billion to be exact. It means that
in 2009 it increased by USD 500 million. Last summer, in June if I'm
not mistaken, we also issued an additional government loan of USD 500
million to Armenia. We hope that this loan helped and was received in
good time in order to create stability in the social sphere and the
economy. Russia's largest companies are working actively in Armenia's
market. And we are thankful to you and the Armenian government for
creating favourable conditions for this work and for this cooperation.
I'm glad to see you here. Welcome!
Serzh Sargsyan: Thank you, Mr Putin. I, too, am glad to have this
chance to meet today. I am pleased to say that the Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership is developing stably. Russia remains Armenia's
leading trade and economic partner. You correctly noted that our
bilateral trade has risen 12% this year. Last year we received over
500 million in investments. This year we receive investments, too. Our
long-standing economic ties are also reinforced by the projects that
we are currently implementing. I'm referring to the construction of a
new unit at the Metsamorskaya nuclear power plant and the modernisation
and expansion of our railway system. There have been large, long-term
investments in the communications sector. We are developing very well.
I would like to thank you once again for granting us the government
loan. Without this money, we probably would not have been able to
recover this year. And we have been recovering this year. At the same
time, just like Russia, our agriculture has been facing hard times
due to the weather. While our industrial growth is about 10%, we are
experiencing a decline of between 17% and 18% in agriculture. But we
sincerely hope that in cooperation with Russia - seeing as our main
enterprises are either joint ventures with Russia or funded entirely
by Russian capital - we will recover from the crisis. Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Sargsyan, while we are also experiencing serious
difficulties in our agricultural industry this year due to the weather,
we have nevertheless responded to the call of our Armenian friends
and delivered 1,000 tonnes of wheat seeds to Armenia this September
so that fields can be sowed in time and yield a good harvest next
year. We are prepared to continue our cooperation in this area.
We are aware of Armenia's needs and will continue coordinating all
these issuesl.
Serzh Sargsyan: Thank you very much.
From: A. Papazian