By empty (6/23/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Robert Kocharian and Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on 22 June on the eve of a CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB) summit, RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported. While both presidents gave an overall positive assessment of bilateral relations, Kocharian noted the need to address problems in the energy sector. Those problems arise from Russia\'s failure to invest as promised in five Armenian enterprises it acquired in payment of Armenia\'s $100 million debt.
Robert Kocharian and Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on 22 June on the eve of a CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB) summit, RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported. While both presidents gave an overall positive assessment of bilateral relations, Kocharian noted the need to address problems in the energy sector. Those problems arise from Russia\'s failure to invest as promised in five Armenian enterprises it acquired in payment of Armenia\'s $100 million debt. Putin for his part lauded Armenia\'s decision to request observer status in the Eurasian Economic Cooperation Organization. Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, who will also attend the ODKB summit, told journalists in Moscow on 22 June that he believes Armenia\'s membership of the ODKB \"is one of the integral parts of Armenia\'s national security,\" RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported. He argued that planned increased cooperation with NATO will not negatively impact on Armenia\'s ODKB membership. (RFE/RL)