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Armenia’s joining of Customs Union conditioned by economic, strategic interests

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian: Armenia continues to strengthen strategic relations with Russia

YEREVAN, January 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Armenia’s joining of the Customs Union is conditioned by the republic’s economic and strategic interests, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said on Wednesday.

“Armenia was continuing to strengthen strategic relations with Russia. The year was marked by the exchange of visits and meetings between the leadership of both countries,” Nalbandian said.

“Within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which is an important inalienable component of the republic’s security, Armenia is putting forth initiatives on further strengthening of the organisation,” the minister said.

“The joint steps taken in 2013 were aimed at strengthening Armenian-Russian relations,” he said.

“The intensive political dialogue helped implement the agreements on the development of interstate cooperation and work out new promising programmes,” Nalbandian said.

Within the year 2013 the Armenian and Russian presidents had six meetings, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

During the meetings, the presidents “reached agreement on strengthening and developing foreign political interaction and cooperation in the military and military-technical fields, modernising the economy in the energy sector, as well as nuclear engineering, transport, communications, the infrastructure, the humanitarian sphere and others”, the ministry said.

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