Upcoming Armenian, Russian FMs` talks to build up allied relations -  Moscow 

ArmInfo. Russia's Ministry of foreign Affairs has provided information on Armenian-Russian cooperation prior to Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan's visit to Moscow. 

On March 20, the Armenian and Russian FMs will hold talks. 

The upcoming meeting is a follow-up to the traditional close contacts  between Moscow and Yerevan. The ministers plan a comprehensive  discussion on the current state of Russian-Armenian cooperation and  further steps toward its development. 

The Armenian and Russian FMs will focus on the regional agenda in the  context of implementation of the Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani  agreements of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2011, and  October 31, 2022. 

"Armenia is one of Russia's major allies and strategic partner in the  South Caucasus. We maintain regular top-level dialogue. Last year,  Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan  had nine meetings and 25 telephone talks, and three telephone talks  in 2023," reads an official report by the RF Ministry of Foreign  Affairs. 

Armenian-Russian trade and economic ties are progressively being  strengthened. 

Russia is Armenia's leading partner, with a share of over 30% in the  country's foreign trade, and the largest investor in Armenia's  economy. Russian capital investments in Armenia exceed $2bln, which  is around 40% of the total foreign investments in Armenia's economy.  Over 40 leading Russian companies are working on Armenia's market,  with some of them being major taxpayers in the country.  

In 2021, the bilateral commodity turnover totaled $2.6bln (a 12.8%  growth). Russia's exports to Armenia totaled $1.9bln (a 14% growth),  and Armenia's imports to Russia, $700mln (a 9.8% growth). The trade  surplus totaled $1.2bln.  

Last year, the bilateral trade turnover set a record, $4.8bln (an  83.3% growth), with exports totaling $2.8bln and imports $2bln. 

Russia imports 98% of Armenia's agricultural products and 78% of  alcoholic beverages. 

The Russian-Armenian intergovernmental economic cooperation  commission is working effectively. 

One of Russia's foreign policy priorities in the South Caucasus is  facilitating the rapprochement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in line  with the trilateral top-level agreements of November 9, 2020, January  11 and November 26, 2021, and October 31, 2022. Russia regards their  implementation as a key condition for establishing peace and  stability in the region, restoring mutual confidence and full-scale  cooperation between Baku and Yerevan.   

The Russian peacekeepers contribute to security in their  responsibility zone. The peacekeers are facilitating the return of  refugees, creating conditions for a peaceful life, demining the  areas, mediating the exchange of prisoners and detainees, providing  humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The top priority of Russia's efforts is the unblocking of the  regional transport links. 

"In cooperation with our Armenian and Azerbaijani partners, within  the Trilateral Workgroup co-chaired by the vice-premiers, we are  discussing a package of infrastructure projects which would enable  railway and highway service and facilitate the establishment of  economic ties. 

"We are for further activities of the bilateral commission for  delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The border  delimitation process is supposed to put an end to border incidents.  Russia will provide necessary consultations to the parties," the  report reads. 

Drafting a peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku is supposed to  lay the groundwork for long-term mutually beneficial cooperation.  Moscow is willing to spare no effort to facilitate this all-important  process in the interests of regional stability.  "We view the  upcoming talks as a follow-up to our team work to maintain our  dialogue and build up our allied relations," the official statement  reads.