03 June 2004 11:36
Armenia, Russia to boost relations in all spheres
[Presenter] The fate of five Armenian enterprises handed over to Russia under the property-for-debt agreement was the
key issue which was discussed on Wednesday [2 June] during a sitting of the Armenian-Russian interparliamentary
commission in Yerevan. The members of the commission stressed the importance of developing these enterprises. The main
obstacle to the development of Armenian-Russian economic relations - transport communications - was also the key issue
of the Yerevan meeting. The Armenian and Russian parliamentarians suggested that the Armenian, Russian and Georgian
leaders sign a trilateral agreement and create a transport corridor.
[Correspondent over video of the meeting] The seventh session of the Armenian-Russian interparliamentary commission
discussed mainly economic issues. We have trade relations, the commodity turnover increased by 30 per cent last year.
According to the assessments of the commission's co-chairmen, there are various issues of cooperation in the
regional small and medium-sized business sphere.
[Russian co-chairman of the commission Nikolay Ryzhkov, speaking in Russian with Armenian voice-over] Yes, there are
problems, first of all there are discrepancies in legislation. The enterprises have been handed over to the Russian
side, but Armenian laws are valid there, which is creating problems. There are also technical problems.
[National Assembly deputy chairman Vaan Ovanesyan] Transport communications in our relations are not at a good level.
Russia has made serious investments in Armenia, especially in the aviation sphere. At the same time, they do not ensure
a qualitative improvement, and I think that there is a lot to do for cooperation.
[Correspondent] Transport issues were also discussed separately during the session. According to the sides'
assessments, the main obstacle in this field is the closure of the Abkhaz railway section which connects the two
countries.
[Vaan Ovanesyan] It is known that Azerbaijan is pursuing a policy of hindering Armenia's participation in all
the transport and economic programmes of regional importance. But our partners have no such problems. Armenia will
finally join the programme on establishing the Russian-Azerbaijani-Iran transit communications line, which was first
designed as a Russia-Armenia-Iran one.
[Correspondent] The agreement adopted at the end of the Yerevan session of the interparliamentary commission
envisages setting up five working groups which will be engaged in economic, political, educational-cultural
international parliamentary organizations and deal with interregional cooperation issues. They also suggested that the
Armenian, Russian and Georgian governments sign a trilateral agreement on establishing a transport corridor. In order to
develop Armenian-Russian cooperation, the session also approved the decision to set up an Armenian-Russian Business
Cooperation Association. The member of the Armenian National Assembly, Volodya Badalyan, was elected chairman of the
Armenian-Russian cooperation association.
The Armenian-Russian cooperation association will hold a session in Moscow on 29 June.
Nune Aleksanyan and Susan Badalyan for "Aylur".
[Public Television of Armenia] |
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