Syria key issue on Armenian-Russian presidential meeting agenda

Syria is the key point on the agenda of the Russian-Armenian presidential meeting, Karen Bekaryan, Chairman of the European Integration NGO, told Tert.am.His statement runs counter to the ones by other experts, who claim Russian President Vladimir Putin's initiative to form a Eurasian Union to be the key issue on the agenda.Bekaryan believes that at their private meeting the Armenian and Russian leaders are discussing a wide range of issues, with bilateral economic cooperation and the concept of Eurasian Union part thereof.A month ago, Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin, and, later, Chairwoman of the RF Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko discussed the Eurasian Union concept in Yerevan in Yerevan. The concept was immediately put high on the political agenda.Specifically, the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), as well as a number of public and political organizations, welcomed the Russian leader's initiative.With respect to the Syrian issue on the agend a, Bekaryan said: "Russia is obviously very sensitive to the problem in terms of both political interests, military presence and possible economic transformations."As to whether the high-ranking Russian officials' statements are a mere coincidence, Bekaryan said: "No coincidence. The European Union concept is on the agenda, which has to be taken into account. This is an idea with its aspects. It may be 25th or 7th on the agenda, but will be on the agenda. The level of Armenian-Russian relations suggests it is natural that Russian should 'test' the idea with its closest partner."The European Union is expected to be formed in 2015.   Read more... (257 words)

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