High-level Armenian-Russian negotiations took place in Moscow

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.”