Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov arrived in Armenia for his first working visit late Wednesday, February 16. On February 17, Minister Oskanian received his Russian counterpart at Armenia's Foreign Ministry for a lengthy meeting.

The Armenian Foreign Minister welcomed Minister Lavrov's visit to Yerevan, noting that in the last decade Armenia-Russia relations have deepened, with strategic cooperation between the two based on common interests. Minister Lavrov, too, expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation and the positive direction of interstate contacts. As evidence, he pointed to the fact that 2005 is the Year of Russia, in Armenia.

Noting that there is a conflation of opinion and approach surrounding various international and regional developments, the sides expressed readiness to take the necessary steps to create an atmosphere of reciprocal confidence and cooperation in the South Caucasus. In this context, the Armenian and Russian ministers discussed the current stage of negotiations surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Minister Lavrov expressed hope that the Prague Process would give the two sides the opportunity to find common ground for the quick settlement of the conflict, and reaffirmed Russia's readiness to serve as guarantor for whatever agreement is reached by the sides.

The two ministers discussed the main issues on the Armenia-Russia agenda. They focused specifically on economic matters and spoke of the effeciveness of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the Armenia-Russia Business Cooperation Union. They noted that such cooperation can only be aided by the recently enhanced contacts between Armenia's regions and specific Russian companies.

In the context of improved economic relations, Ministers Oskanian and Lavrov stressed the importance of a unified policy on the part of the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia towards the reestablishment of communication lines in the region, noting that this would at the same time benefit the settlement of existing conflicts. The ministers acknowledged that some progress is noticeable in this area and discussed a series of issues which still await resolution.

In the context of the Year of Russia, they discussed humanitarian activities, cultural exchange, and a variety of programs and activities and programs in the fields of trade, culture, science, education, information, youth, sports and tourism which will begin by mid-March. Armenia's and Russia's top diplomats also discussed the need to encourage and facilitate Armenian and Russian language instruction in each other's countries, especially in the context of the historic friendship between the two peoples.

On the bilateral agenda, the ministers examined issues relating to Armenian citizens in Russia, such as residency, status and work quotas, as well as specific consular and diplomatic matters.

Minister Lavrov and Minister Oskanian conferred about cooperation in international and regional organizations, CIS reforms, cooperation in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and UN reform.

During his one-day visit, Minister Lavrov, who had last visited Armenia over a decade earlier, placed a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, visited Armenia's Slavonic University, and participated in a joint news conference with Minister Oskanian.

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