Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Russian Federation

In the framework of the working visit to the Russian Federation President Serzh Sargsyan met today with the President of RF Vladimir Putin. The Heads of the two strategic partner states discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the agenda of the Armenian-Russian bilateral cooperation, spoke about expanding cooperation in all areas, discussed the process of implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level, and prospects of advancing integration processes in the Eurasian area. Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin discussed issues related to the current stage of the NK peace process, existing problems and opportunities to move the process forward, as well as exchanged views on the global and regional issues and challenges. Present at the meeting were also representatives of the official delegations.

“Distinguished Mr. President, dear friends. It is very nice to see you all in Moscow. Armenia is our strategic partner in the South Caucasus and we are building consistently our allied relations in the most sensitive areas and on the international arena. I mean first of all the CIS area: We cooperate here, within the CSTO and now in the framework of the Eurasian Union. By the way, I am glad to register that fact and I would like to congratulate you on that occasion. I have gone through the last year’s data – as it appears in the documents, since Armenia joined the Eurasian Union your GDP has grown by 10 percent. It is of course a very positive figure. I hope that the positive dynamics will go on. We have many issues of a bilateral nature. So, I am very glad to see you. Welcome,” said President Vladimir Putin at the meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan.

“Thank you, Mr. President. I am very glad to hold another regular meeting. As it happens, we meet at this time of the year to discuss the state the Armenian-Russian allied partnership, to exchange views on the most pressing bilateral and regional agenda items and certainly to discuss the process of implementation of the agreements reached earlier. I would like to note with satisfaction that despite global and regional economic problems, in the six months of the year our turnover has risen by 12 percent, while exports from Armenia to Russia has gone up by 90 percent and factually has reached its historical peak. It has happened of course thanks to the possibilities provided by the Eurasian Union, and it is very good. In the process, there of course took place reciprocal and dynamic high-level visits of the officials. In fact, we don’t have any serious problems on the bilateral level; all issues are being solved expeditiously. Mr. President, I would like to express my personal gratitude for the efforts made by Russia for the diplomatic solution of the NK problem. With this regard, it is of course very and very important for the reached agreements to be implemented. We are ready. Thank you for this meeting, it is very nice,” said President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation.

The President of the Russian Federation added that he be would glad to inform President Sargsyan on the results of his meeting in Baku with the President of Azerbaijan with regard to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin recapped the results of the negotiations at the briefing with the representatives of the mass media and answered questions raised by the journalists.

On the Azeri President’s statement regarding the alleged surrender by the Armenian side of five and then three regions, on the supplies by the Russian Federation of the armaments to Azerbaijan and on that fact’s conformity with the spirit of the NK peace process the President of the Russian Federation said in particular.

“First of all, I believe that I am not obligated to comment on the statements of my colleagues in Armenia as well as in Azerbaijan, or anywhere else. I also believe that if you want to get in-depth information, you need to ask the author of this or that statement. However, on the other hand, I think everybody understands that when there takes place a difficult process of the approximation of the positions and compromise finding, during that pretty thorny process political and diplomatic means are being used, as well as the engagement of the mass media to shape certain ambitious positions. And there is nothing extraordinary about it. In fact, it’s a common practice. Actually, I think that both Armenia and Azerbaijan really want to find a way out from this situation to leave in peace and accord, to cooperate, to develop their economies. Armenia too is interested in the elimination of all restrictions – infrastructural, economic, so that the economy develops and people finally live well and so that the Armenian statehood becomes stronger. In the process of settlement this is our goal, our aspiration. The goal is to reach such results. The Azerbaijani side also wants it. My recent contacts with President Aliev in Baku prove it. Solutions should be found, formats which, as I have already said, will not create losers and winners; it should be a solution which will be worked out by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which will be acceptable for the societies of both countries, this is the most important thing. Russia, as some other countries of the Minsk Group, can become a guarantor, employing, if needed, relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. As for the weapons, we have a program of work on this with Armenia. Armenia is a member of the CSTO, Armenia is our ally. We have certain mutual obligations, and Russia always fulfills its obligations. In the contemporary weapon market, any country can indeed acquire arms of its choice. For instance, a country like Azerbaijan – oil producing country, with the population of almost 10 millions, with a rapidly growing economy, with pretty large reserves of currency and gold is certainly able to get arms anywhere, right? At this point, I wouldn’t pay attention to the military component. We want to solve the problem, and we have to solve it through peaceful means.”

***

Statement of President Serzh Sargsyan for the mass media on the results of the meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Firstly, I would like to thank President Vladimir Putin for the warm welcome.
The high level active political dialogue reflects the level of relations of our two countries. The relations encompass all vital areas for our two countries, from the allied partnership in the framework of the CSTO to the economic integration in the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as close cooperation in the humanitarian area. Ties between our regions are widening, and in this a great role is ascribed to the regular inter-regional Armenian-Russian commissions, to the direct ties between the subjects of the Russian Federation and marzes of the Republic of Armenia. We highly value Russia’s role in the world and particularly in our region where numerous processes, which have their impact on stability and security, are going on. Armenia has been watching closely intensive foreign policy contacts of the President of Russia in the recent week which is totally understandable considering the fact that Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey are Armenia’s neighboring states. I thank the President of Russia for the detailed account of these meetings and I am confident that Armenia only benefits from a greater involvement of Russia in our region. Today, we have discussed noticeable success reflected in the encreasing turnover between Armenia and Russia. This is an unambiguous answer to the skeptics who were claiming that Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union will not give Armenia any advantage. It would suffice to say that despite all international difficulties and hurdles, our turnover has registered an impressive growth, while exports from Armenia to Russia in the six months of this year have risen by 90 percent, reaching their semi-annual historical peak. I am confident that we will be able to uphold and develop this dynamics because the trade and economic potential of our countries even today is not being used fully.
Quite naturally, the main topic of our today’s negotiations was the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict, the process of implementation of the agreements reached at the Summits in Vienna and Saint Petersburg. It is first of all the unequivocal implementation of the unlimited trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994-95, creation of the mechanisms for the investigation of the incidents, and expansion of the missions of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
I once again thanked the President of the Russian Federation for the efforts which Russia, as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in cooperation with the United States and France is exercising for the peaceful settlement of the problem and for the great personal input of President Putin to the process. Two years ago in Sochi we discussed in detail principles and approaches for the resolution of this difficult problem. These principles are invariable. Conflicts like this cannot be solved referring to its consequences without eliminating the causes. In the core of the Karabakh conflict is the struggle of the people of Karabakh for the right for self-determination. This is an unalienable right of any nation. The key to the solution of the problem lies in respecting that right and its implementation. This was the topic of our detailed conversation with the President of Russia today. A peace process related to such a sensitive topic or negotiations are never easy. Any step which may tip the scale, create winner and losers are doomed to failure and will create new tension. Every side should win as a result of practical, clear-cut and doable decisions, which will be based on mutual respect and trust and not on hatred and xenophobia.
Mr. President, the topics of peace and solidarity are particularly current during the Olympic Games. We will once again wish success to the teams of Armenia and Russia and will rejoice on the success of our and your athletes. We are very proud that the RF sportsmen of the Armenian descent have registered excellent results. Several months ago in Yerevan was opened a figure skating school after the world legend Irina Rodnina. I am confident that joint victories and achievements in sports reflect reciprocal sentiments of our two peoples. As the saying goes “There is healthy mind in a healthy body”.