YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Armenia’s Prime Minister Robert Kocharian met Tuesday with Russian Ambassador to Armenia Andrey Urnov. The Ambassador congratulated Kocharian upon his new appointment and wished him luck.
Political–economic and cultural relations between Armenia and Russia were discussed at the meeting. The two stressed the importance of signing a new major political treaty–as well as ratifying the agreement on Russian Military Bases in Armenia.
They also stressed the importance of boosting relations in the field of economy and noted that there was a great potential for cooperation in that field.
Regional problems–particularly the Karabakh problem were also discussed during the meeting.
Chairman of the Duma defense committee Lev Rokhlin–at a closed door house session Wednesday–made a report on the situation of illegal exports of Russian arms.
Rokhlin’s report and his answers to questions by Duma deputies continued for more than 45 minutes–but no information was available on any decisions made by the Duma.
During the report and discussion–journalists were not allowed into the auditorium and to the press box.
Sources in parliament told Itar-Tass that the arms deal with Armenia and other such deals were under strong scrutiny.
