President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharian were able to settle rapidly a number of issues that had built up in the two countries’ economic relations.
Mr Putin said he has big hopes that trade and economic ties between the two countries will intensify when the Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission commences its work. For the Russian side, Transport Minister Igor Levitin will act as chairman of the commission.
The meeting also looked at the consequences the halt of work at the Armenian Aluminium enterprise for reconstruction will have for the two countries’ economic ties. Mr Putin noted that this decision has led to a decrease in trade turnover between Russia and Armenia, but expressed confidence that this situation would be rectified very soon.
The President pointed out that Moscow and Yerevan had previously been able to settle questions of Armenia’s debt to Russia through giving Russian investors the opportunity to buy a number of Armenian enterprises. Mr Putin noted that these decisions are now up to the business community and partly up to the state, in cases concerning dual-purpose enterprises.