By Prensa Latina
Yerevan : Armenia became a stockholder in the International Uranium Enriching Center that Russia and Kazakhstan run in Angarsk, Eastern Siberia, after signing an intergovernmental agreement with the Euro-Asian country.
The protocols governing that association were penned by Russian First Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and his Armenian counterpart, Serch Sarkisian, it was confirmed in this capital.
About the results of his visit to Yerevan, Zubkov pointed out that bilateral trade will grow to at least one billion dollars in 2008, accounting for a 42-percent increase compared to last year.
ROSATOM President Sergei Kirienko noted that the new agreement lays the foundations for Armenia to join the non-proliferation treaty.
He expressed optimism about Russia winning a bid to build a one-billion-dollar nuclear plant in Armenia.
The expert added that Moscow and Yerevan would set up a 50-50 joint venture to prospect for uranium in Armenia, whose reserves are estimated at 60,000 tons.
For his part, Russian Transportation Minister Igor Levitin said Armavia airline would be the first foreign company to buy two Sujoi Superjet-100 planes for 50 million dollars.
Zubkov is scheduled to end his visit to Armenia on Wednesday, when he will meet President Robert Kocharian.