Sargsian at meeting with Putin calls escalation on Azerbaijani-Armenian border intentional
BOCHAROV RUCHEI, Sochi. Aug 10 (Interfax) - Armenian President Serzh Sargsian at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin has spoken of the intentional escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict by Azerbaijan.
"In my own turn I will inform you in detail about the situation in our region and the causes of the intentional escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border by Azerbaijan," Sargsian said at a Saturday meeting with Putin in Sochi.
Putin suggested discussing issues of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the course of the meeting.
"There is an opportunity to discuss in greater detail issues related to the Karabakh settlement," Putin said.
He said that many aspects of bilateral relations are to be discussed in the course of the meeting.
"The agenda is very long, intensive," he said.
Putin stressed that Russian-Armenian relations "are of exceptionally friendly, strategic nature."
He promised informing Sargsian about progress on the work on the treaty of Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.
On his own part Sargsian asked the Russian leader to inform him about steps taken by Russia to settle the situation in Ukraine. "We are alarmed by the situation in Ukraine and if you find it necessary, inform us about the measures taken by Russia, please," he said.
Russia is a key economic partner of Armenia. Last year trade turnover between the two countries grew 10.6% to 1.35 billion. This year the growth continued and amounted to 4.8% in Q1.
Accrued Russian investment in the Armenian economy exceeds $3.2 billion which amounts to over 50% of total foreign investment.
Russian investments are directed mainly to the energy, banking, mining and constructions sectors, communications and IT.
Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union formed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is expected to give an additional impetus to the deepening of trade and investment cooperation. The work on the accession treaty is at its final stage.