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PRESS STATEMENT AND ANSWERS TO JOURNALISTS' QUESTIONS AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TALKS
Office of the President of Russia
www.kremlin.ru
Oct 24 2011
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome to Moscow Mr Sargsyan and this big Armenian
delegation for the first state visit by the President of Armenia to
Russia. I am sure that this visit, which, like any state visit, has
a symbolic dimension, will become a big milestone in developing the
cooperation between our countries and building up our broad-ranging
alliance and the friendly relations that have always bound our peoples.
We examined a range of issues at the talks just now, with priority
going to bilateral cooperation of course. I have regular contact and
meet often with Mr Sargsyan. I think that our political dialogue is
essential for maintaining balanced and substantial relations between
our countries.
Our trade and economic ties are developing well. We have clearly
recovered from the economic difficulties the crisis brought, and we
expect to see our bilateral trade turnover for 2011 overall exceed
the pre-crisis level and come to a total of more than $1 billion.
Big Russian companies continue developing their business in Armenia.
Our accumulated investment has now reached the impressive figure of
more than $2.8 billion and is thus coming close to the $3 billion
mark. Investment cooperation is one of the sectors that will get
priority attention.
We are developing cooperation in a broad range of areas. We have a
high level of energy sector cooperation, and are getting positive
signals from cooperation in the high-technology sector. We heard
from the ministers just now about how our investment cooperation
on a range of projects is progressing. We think that transport,
communications, and information technology are all very important
sectors for our work together, and the amendment signed just before
in the agreement on avoiding double taxation of income and assets
aims precisely to facilitate development of our trade, economic and
investment cooperation.
Our interregional cooperation is showing positive development. The
first Russian-Armenian interregional cooperation forum took place
in Yerevan in April. This was a much-needed initiative and I hope
it will continue, all the more so as around 70 Russian regions now
have active cooperation ties with Armenia's regions and Armenia in
general. Our countries' capital cities are also actively developing
their ties and this is a good sign.
We discussed our humanitarian ties today. They have their roots in
history, and I am sure that they will continue to develop well in the
future, all the more so as the large Armenian diaspora is so active
in this work.
The Russian Science and Culture Centre in Yerevan is open and working.
It is also home to a teaching and methodology centre for Russian
language study, which was something we discussed just now, and also
to the Russian-Armenian Innovation Cooperation Centre. We place
great importance in general on all cultural issues and projects
to support our national languages. The Russian language remains an
important tool for communication between peoples, and there can be
no underestimating the importance of this role. We discussed new
projects in this area at our talks just before. As far as language
support goes, Russia will also help to promote and support the use
of the Armenian language of course, especially in areas that are home
to large Armenian communities.
Naturally, we also discussed foreign policy matters, and our foreign
ministers just signed a large number of documents. Of course we want
to continue developing our relations within the CSTO. We share very
similar positions on the main issues on the international agenda,
and this helps us to work together fruitfully in the United Nations,
the OSCE, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation, and in
other areas too.
Strengthening stability in the Trans-Caucasus is another big issue. We
exchanged views on the current situation in Nagorno Karabakh. My
personal view is that this conflict can be resolved only through
political means. Considerable efforts have been made in this direction
over recent years, including with Russia's participation. I think that
we must continue to encourage and support the negotiating process as
a co-chair of the Minsk Group, and organise direct contacts with the
Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships.
I want to thank Mr Sargsyan for today's talks, which were constructive
and friendly as always. Indeed, we never have any problems, for we
meet and talk as two friends, two leaders of neighbouring countries
that are friends and allies.
* * *
QUESTION: Mr Medvedev, you said that the ministers reported on the
bilateral investment projects. What are the prospects for developing
Russian investment in Armenia? Are there any big new projects in mind?
In particular, what are the cooperation prospects in the nuclear
energy sector?
DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Yes, we heard from the ministers, but to be honest,
Mr Sargsyan and I, even in our one-on-one meetings, cover all of
these different subjects with ease because we are familiar with the
projects and have been discussing them for a long time now.
Of course a lot depends on investment cooperation. I said just now
that Russia's cumulative investment in Armenia is approaching $3
billion, and this is by no means the limit. We are absolutely certain
that we can develop our investment further. Russian companies have
become stable suppliers of natural gas to Armenia and are working
actively in the electricity sector too. Incidentally, the fifth
generating unit at the Razdan Thermal Power Plant is due to come on
line soon. This will be, I think, just the latest big event in our
investment cooperation. I think that our natural gas projects will
also take our cooperation in the energy sector to a higher level.
Energy is very important of course, but we cannot limit our cooperation
to this one sector alone. We realise how important infrastructure
projects are for our Armenian friends - both real and virtual
infrastructure. By real infrastructure I mean railways, and there
are a number of projects currently underway. We discussed them at
today's talks, including possible new ideas for finding a way out of
the complicated situation that Armenia is in at the moment. We hope
that through our joint efforts and with the help of other countries
too, we will be able to help Armenia build a more modern and perhaps
even completely new communications system.
As for virtual investment projects (so called not because they
are just virtual, but because they are about information technology
cooperation), this is an area that is developing well. I remember how
Mr Sargsyan and I inaugurated one interesting project in the area of
broadband mobile internet at a time when all of this was developing
a lot slower in Russia. But this is a very good thing. Our Armenian
friends are establishing a pilot platform, one could say, for trying
out Russian and jointly-produced information technology. We think this
is very useful. Even the double taxation avoidance agreement that we
signed just before will encourage development of investment projects.
Let me say just a couple of words about the nuclear energy sector.
This is also an important cooperation sector. These are not cheap
projects, frankly, and they will require big investment, all the more
so given the particularly stringent standards applied to nuclear energy
today. But discussion of this project continues and we hope to agree
on an optimum scheme for developing our cooperation in this sector.
QUESTION: Mr Medvedev, regarding the energy projects the European
Union has initiated in the Trans-Caucasus region, and also the South
Stream project, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that these
projects should not in any way contribute to increasing tension in
the region and must not create dividing lines. I would like to hear
your view on this issue.
DMITRY MEDVEDEV: I agree completely with Mr Sargsyan. Economic projects
should not create dividing lines, but should strengthen cooperation
in the region. This is their goal, the goal of South Stream and the
many other projects that can be carried out in the region.
All of the Russian Federation's undertakings aim to foster this
common spirit of cooperation, ease any concerns that perhaps exist,
and make Russia and the other countries taking part in these projects
more competitive. Mr Sargsyan was therefore right in his comments,
and we should encourage all sorts of different projects between
Russia and Armenia, especially those in which successful members of
the Armenian community here are taking part.
From: Baghdasarian
Office of the President of Russia
www.kremlin.ru
Oct 24 2011
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome to Moscow Mr Sargsyan and this big Armenian
delegation for the first state visit by the President of Armenia to
Russia. I am sure that this visit, which, like any state visit, has
a symbolic dimension, will become a big milestone in developing the
cooperation between our countries and building up our broad-ranging
alliance and the friendly relations that have always bound our peoples.
We examined a range of issues at the talks just now, with priority
going to bilateral cooperation of course. I have regular contact and
meet often with Mr Sargsyan. I think that our political dialogue is
essential for maintaining balanced and substantial relations between
our countries.
Our trade and economic ties are developing well. We have clearly
recovered from the economic difficulties the crisis brought, and we
expect to see our bilateral trade turnover for 2011 overall exceed
the pre-crisis level and come to a total of more than $1 billion.
Big Russian companies continue developing their business in Armenia.
Our accumulated investment has now reached the impressive figure of
more than $2.8 billion and is thus coming close to the $3 billion
mark. Investment cooperation is one of the sectors that will get
priority attention.
We are developing cooperation in a broad range of areas. We have a
high level of energy sector cooperation, and are getting positive
signals from cooperation in the high-technology sector. We heard
from the ministers just now about how our investment cooperation
on a range of projects is progressing. We think that transport,
communications, and information technology are all very important
sectors for our work together, and the amendment signed just before
in the agreement on avoiding double taxation of income and assets
aims precisely to facilitate development of our trade, economic and
investment cooperation.
Our interregional cooperation is showing positive development. The
first Russian-Armenian interregional cooperation forum took place
in Yerevan in April. This was a much-needed initiative and I hope
it will continue, all the more so as around 70 Russian regions now
have active cooperation ties with Armenia's regions and Armenia in
general. Our countries' capital cities are also actively developing
their ties and this is a good sign.
We discussed our humanitarian ties today. They have their roots in
history, and I am sure that they will continue to develop well in the
future, all the more so as the large Armenian diaspora is so active
in this work.
The Russian Science and Culture Centre in Yerevan is open and working.
It is also home to a teaching and methodology centre for Russian
language study, which was something we discussed just now, and also
to the Russian-Armenian Innovation Cooperation Centre. We place
great importance in general on all cultural issues and projects
to support our national languages. The Russian language remains an
important tool for communication between peoples, and there can be
no underestimating the importance of this role. We discussed new
projects in this area at our talks just before. As far as language
support goes, Russia will also help to promote and support the use
of the Armenian language of course, especially in areas that are home
to large Armenian communities.
Naturally, we also discussed foreign policy matters, and our foreign
ministers just signed a large number of documents. Of course we want
to continue developing our relations within the CSTO. We share very
similar positions on the main issues on the international agenda,
and this helps us to work together fruitfully in the United Nations,
the OSCE, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation, and in
other areas too.
Strengthening stability in the Trans-Caucasus is another big issue. We
exchanged views on the current situation in Nagorno Karabakh. My
personal view is that this conflict can be resolved only through
political means. Considerable efforts have been made in this direction
over recent years, including with Russia's participation. I think that
we must continue to encourage and support the negotiating process as
a co-chair of the Minsk Group, and organise direct contacts with the
Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships.
I want to thank Mr Sargsyan for today's talks, which were constructive
and friendly as always. Indeed, we never have any problems, for we
meet and talk as two friends, two leaders of neighbouring countries
that are friends and allies.
* * *
QUESTION: Mr Medvedev, you said that the ministers reported on the
bilateral investment projects. What are the prospects for developing
Russian investment in Armenia? Are there any big new projects in mind?
In particular, what are the cooperation prospects in the nuclear
energy sector?
DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Yes, we heard from the ministers, but to be honest,
Mr Sargsyan and I, even in our one-on-one meetings, cover all of
these different subjects with ease because we are familiar with the
projects and have been discussing them for a long time now.
Of course a lot depends on investment cooperation. I said just now
that Russia's cumulative investment in Armenia is approaching $3
billion, and this is by no means the limit. We are absolutely certain
that we can develop our investment further. Russian companies have
become stable suppliers of natural gas to Armenia and are working
actively in the electricity sector too. Incidentally, the fifth
generating unit at the Razdan Thermal Power Plant is due to come on
line soon. This will be, I think, just the latest big event in our
investment cooperation. I think that our natural gas projects will
also take our cooperation in the energy sector to a higher level.
Energy is very important of course, but we cannot limit our cooperation
to this one sector alone. We realise how important infrastructure
projects are for our Armenian friends - both real and virtual
infrastructure. By real infrastructure I mean railways, and there
are a number of projects currently underway. We discussed them at
today's talks, including possible new ideas for finding a way out of
the complicated situation that Armenia is in at the moment. We hope
that through our joint efforts and with the help of other countries
too, we will be able to help Armenia build a more modern and perhaps
even completely new communications system.
As for virtual investment projects (so called not because they
are just virtual, but because they are about information technology
cooperation), this is an area that is developing well. I remember how
Mr Sargsyan and I inaugurated one interesting project in the area of
broadband mobile internet at a time when all of this was developing
a lot slower in Russia. But this is a very good thing. Our Armenian
friends are establishing a pilot platform, one could say, for trying
out Russian and jointly-produced information technology. We think this
is very useful. Even the double taxation avoidance agreement that we
signed just before will encourage development of investment projects.
Let me say just a couple of words about the nuclear energy sector.
This is also an important cooperation sector. These are not cheap
projects, frankly, and they will require big investment, all the more
so given the particularly stringent standards applied to nuclear energy
today. But discussion of this project continues and we hope to agree
on an optimum scheme for developing our cooperation in this sector.
QUESTION: Mr Medvedev, regarding the energy projects the European
Union has initiated in the Trans-Caucasus region, and also the South
Stream project, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that these
projects should not in any way contribute to increasing tension in
the region and must not create dividing lines. I would like to hear
your view on this issue.
DMITRY MEDVEDEV: I agree completely with Mr Sargsyan. Economic projects
should not create dividing lines, but should strengthen cooperation
in the region. This is their goal, the goal of South Stream and the
many other projects that can be carried out in the region.
All of the Russian Federation's undertakings aim to foster this
common spirit of cooperation, ease any concerns that perhaps exist,
and make Russia and the other countries taking part in these projects
more competitive. Mr Sargsyan was therefore right in his comments,
and we should encourage all sorts of different projects between
Russia and Armenia, especially those in which successful members of
the Armenian community here are taking part.
From: Baghdasarian