On April 13 in State Duma RA NA Speaker Baghdasaryan met the members of the Committee of the Relations with CIS Affairs and Compatriots of State Duma.

During the meeting the MPs of two parliaments elaborated upon the Armenian-Russian inter-governmental and inter-parliamentary problems and cooperation in international organizations. RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan highlighted the great role of State Duma while solving the issue of the legal status of the Armenians living in Russia, in particular, the issue of the right to residing without visa for 90 days, which will be expressed by the adoption of the law or signing a treaty. The process of fulfillment of the agreement “Debt-for-Equity” was also discussed, which, besides the economic issues, also obtains political importance. The problem of re-operating of railway was also thoroughly discussed. An agreement was reached to organize discussion on re-operating the railway with the participation of the parliaments of the concerned countries, which is of great importance in the political and economic life of the region and Armenia.

The MPs of State Duma were interested in NA Speaker’s opinion on sending Armenian detachment to Iraq. Mr. Baghdasaryan noted that Armenia joined the anti-terrorist coalition and sent his specialists to Iraq with humanitarian mission. Based on the importance of the problem, Armenia could not meet the US, which had assisted Armenia with more than 1bn dollars since the independence of Armenia. So, the problem was both of political and economic importance.

During the meeting the further fate of CIS, and opportunities of implementing the concrete programs within the framework scientific-educational, cultural cooperation between two countries were also discussed.

During the meeting with Igor Levitin, Minister of RF Transport, Armenia-Russia Inter-governmental Committee Co-chairman, the latter noted that Armenia-Russia inter-governmental Committee works efficiently. It was noted that works are being initiated for operating the fifth energy blocks of Hrazdan Thermal power station, steps were undertaken for re-operating “Mars” plant and for implementation of the program “Debt-for-Equity.”

In his speech RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan touched upon the problem of further works of Caucasus-Poti ferry, which is of special importance for Armenia. The necessity of re-operating the Abkhaz railway was also touched upon, the works of which is of regional great importance. Mr. Levitin said that on April 15 he has a meeting with the specialists of the sphere in Krasnodar, during which the mentioned two problems are going to be discussed. The important thing is that the legal side of the problem is provided, and then the technical-economic issues remain to be regulated.

By RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan’s proposal, the sides also elaborated on the issue of differentiating the legal status of the Armenians living in Russia and providing residence without visa for 90 days, which requires legal solutions.