President Serzh Sargsyan met Monday, September 7, with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
According to the website of the Armenian President, the two leaders discussed a broad range of issues concerning bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Russia, particularly focusing on political, economic and humanitarian cooperation, as well as Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
Presidents Sargsyan and Putin also exchanged views on current international and regional problems and challenges, including the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.
As Sargsyan further told Putin, “Our regular meetings enable us to summarize previous agreements and discuss newly-emerged issues. I would like to thank you for transferring Permyakov’s criminal case to the Armenian jurisdiction. Besides, we signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy to reduce the gas price by $25. A $200-million preferential loan agreement has also been singed, enabling Armenia to upgrade the arsenal of its armed forces.”
The Armenian leader also thanked Putin for Russia’s and his personal efforts in finding new ways for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.