ARMENIA WAS THE FIRST TO SIGN VISA-FREE REGIME AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA, AND THIS INDICATES THE LEVEL OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, SAID THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - 04.10.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The official visit of the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian to Moscow on September 25-27 was very significant, said today the Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian at a press conference in Yerevan.

The Minister said that all the bilateral documents signed in Russia show the readiness of Armenia and Russia to continue developing their relations in all the spheres in future. The Foreign Minister of Armenia mentioned in particular the agreement of visa-free travel regime between Armenia and Russia. "After leaving Bishkek agreement on visa-free regime in CIS, Russia signed the first bilateral agreement with Armenia, and this testifies the level of our relations", said Oskanian.

Minister Oskanian said that during the visit the main highlight was the economic cooperation. Considerable progress has been observed in the sphere of energy, transport and trade, he said.

In reply to the question concerning Armenia's position on the activation of cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan, Vardan Oskanian said: "We can only welcome this. We are sure that Russia will not develop its relations with Azerbaijan at the expense of its relations with Armenia". -0-