April 14, 2005 - 11:05 AMT
ARMENIAN SPEAKER NOTED IMPORTANT ROLE OF RUSSIAN STATE DUMA IN SETTLING LEGAL ISSUES ARMENIANS HAVE IN RUSSIA
Chairman of the Parliament of Armenia Artur Baghdasarian met with members of the Duma Committee CIS Affairs and Ties with Compatriots. In the course of the meeting deputies of the two parliaments discussed Armenian-Russian relations, interparliamentary tasks, as well as Armenia-Russia cooperation within international organizations. The Armenian Speaker emphasized the role of the State Duma in settling legal issues Armenians have in Russia, specifically the right for stay without a visa for 90 days. The parties also discussed the implementation of the agreement Property in Exchange for Debt, as well as the launching of the 5 enterprises, conveyed to Russia within the agreement. Answering the question on Artur Baghdasarian's attitude to the sending of a group of Armenian specialists to Iraq, he noted that Armenia has joined the anti-terrorist coalition and has sent its specialist to Iraq on a humanitarian mission. In his words, taking into the account the importance of the issue Armenia could not refrain from cooperation with the US that has provided more than $1 billion assistance to Armenia within the independence period.