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The Russian and Armenian Presidents had a restricted meeting and were later joined by members of the two countries’ delegations.

During the talks, they discussed relevant aspects of Russian-Armenian strategic partnership in the political, trade and economic, investment, military-political and military-technical spheres. They also discussed the transfer of some Armenian enterprises to Russia towards the repayment of the Armenian state debt. Special attention was given to the development of contacts in education, science and culture. Robert Kocharian proposed holding the Year of Russia in Armenia and the Year of Armenia in Russia.

The Presidents focused on the details of the two countries’ joint work within the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, and the Anti-Terrorist Committee; and exchanged their view on a wide range of international and regional problems, primarily the countries’ response to modern challenges and threats, the situation in the Caucasus and prospects for settling the Nagorny Karabakh problem. The sides confirmed their willingness to settle the Nagorny Karabakh conflict as early as possible, by peaceful means and on a fair basis acceptable for all sides.

President Putin welcomed Armenia’s participation in the Eurasian Economic Community as an observer.

The Presidents adopted a joint statement which outlined the main trends for the further expansion of Russian-Armenian relations. The members of the two countries’ delegations signed, in the Presidents’ presence, a package of joint documents, including a joint declaration on cultural cooperation, an inter-governmental agreement on military-technical cooperation, an agreement between the Central Banks of Russia and Armenia, a protocol on commodity exports/imports in 2003, and a protocol on amendments to the inter-governmental agreement on production cooperation of December 7, 1999.

After the talks, Mr Putin and Mr Kocharian held a joint press conference.