Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss trade, energy and the South Caucasus situation with his Armenian counterpart during a visit to Armenia October 20-21, a Kremlin source said on Sunday. Medvedev will pay an official visit to Armenia on the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The visit aims to strengthen the relations of strategic partnership between Russia and Armenia, the Kremlin source said.
Bilateral trade and economic cooperation will top the agenda of talks between the Russian and Armenian leaders, the Kremlin source said. "Bilateral trade grew 13%, year-on-year, in the first eight months of 2008 to $536.5 million. Russia is a leading trade partner of Armenia and holds leading positions in terms of investment in the Armenian economy, with accrued investment from Russia topping $1.6 billion from 1991 to July 1, 2008," the Kremlin source said.
The parties will also focus on joint energy projects and the industrial development of uranium deposits in Armenia, the source said.
At their talks in Yerevan, the Russian and Armenian leaders will also discuss the situation in South Caucasus following Georgia's recent attack on breakaway South Ossetia, and other topical international issues, the Kremlin source said. Russia recognized South Ossetia along with Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, two weeks after it forced out Georgian troops that had tried to retake control of South Ossetia. Tensions remain high in the region, and Georgia continues to demand that Russia withdraw its troops from the two republics.
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