Russia sees Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement without winners and losers – says Putin

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. During the talks between the Presidents of Russia and Armenia a great attention has been paid to the Karabakh conflict settlement taking into account the trilateral St. Petersburg summit and the meeting results with the Azerbaijani President on August 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in Moscow on August 10.

“Russia is interested indecreasing tensions inrelations between our neighbors. We will continue doing all we can tohelp undo theKarabakh knot intheframework oftheOSCEMinsk Group andthrough direct contacts with Yerevan andBaku.We hope that Armenia andAzerbaijan will be able tosettle their disagreements through compromise– without winners andlosers”, the Russian President said, the Kremlin’s official website reported.

He said the meeting with the Armenian President was held in a friendly and constructive environment.

“Serzh Sargsyan told me about therecent events– Iwould say tragic events inYerevan– related tothehostage situation.

Iwould like toemphasize andreiterate that Russia strongly condemned this action bymilitants right from thestart. We consider unacceptable any attempts toresolve difficult domestic political issues through illegal, unconstructive actions”, Putin said.

Putin said during our talks today they discussed ways offurther developing the bilateral relations, including the trade andinvestment ties.

“Russia is Armenia’s leading partner. We account foraquarter oftherepublic’s trade. Regrettably, in2015 our bilateral trade fell byalittle more than 11 percent. This was mostly due tounfavorable developments intheglobal raw materials andfinancial markets.

However, analysts noted positive signs inJanuary-May ofthis year, notably anincrease intrade. Although small, it still constitutes atrend and, asIsaid, we are happy about it. Now we must keep it going.

Imports offood andother agricultural products from Armenia have grown considerably, by86 percent. Investment cooperation is going strong– Russia’s total investment intheArmenian economy has exceeded four billion dollars. It amounts to40 percent ofall foreign investment inArmenia.

About 1,300 Russian companies are operating inArmenia– around one third ofall joint ventures with foreign capital. They are working inkey sectors oftheeconomy– gas, transport, telecommunications andfinance”, Putin said mentioning the names of several largest investors such as Gasprom, Rosatom, Russian Railways.

The Russian President said Armenia’s entry intheEurasian Economic UnioninJanuary 2015 gave fresh impetus tobilateral contacts.

“We have seen ahigh level ofcooperation ineducational, scientific andcultural exchanges. About 3,500 students study attheRussian-Armenian University andateight affiliates ofRussian universities. Thefirst academic year has come toanend atMoscow State University’s affiliate inYerevan. Thefounding ofaRussian-language grammar school inYerevan is under consideration.

We also discussed some issues ofcooperation within theCSTOnow chaired byArmenia. Thenext CSTO summit is scheduled totake place inYerevan inOctober andRussia is certainly planning toattend it”, the Russian President concluded.