ArmeniaNow   Armenian-Turkish relations were among issues discussed by the presidents of Russia and Armenia who met in a southern Russian city on Tuesday.

(Serzh Sargsyan was in Rostov-on-Don reportedly to attend the annual horse race for the Russian Presidential Cup.)

A report made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s press service quoted the Russian leader as saying ahead of his meeting with Serzh Sargsyan in Rostov-on-Don that “the current situation required an exchange of opinions”.

“There are, of course, economic issues… There are regional issues. In short, I have things to tell you about,” said Medvedev, who was on a visit to Turkey as recently as last month.

“I have had several important trips during which – and I won’t conceal it – we also discussed the situation around the Turkish-Armenian settlement and some other issues. I had contacts with some European colleagues. So I have things to tell you about and share with you,” said Medvedev.

The Russian leader was in Ankara in the middle of May, with his visit focusing on large energy projects with Turkey. It came some three weeks after Armenia formally suspended the process of ratifying normalization agreements with Turkey citing the latter’s “preconditions” in the rapprochement process, including calls for progress in the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh that would favor Baku.

Speaking in Ankara on May 12, Medvedev said he hoped Turkey and Armenia would be able to “restore full-fledged relations” and “positive momentum gained after the signing of relevant documents in Zurich will go on.” He also noted “encouraging steps” taken recently in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, but stressed that “not all issues have been agreed” and that “all these issues should be discussed by the parties to the conflict first.”

Neither the Kremlin press service or the press service of the Armenian president released details of the discussion pertaining to Armenian-Turkish relations or other “regional issues” mentioned in the media releases.

Sargsyan’s press office said agreement had been reached on President Medvedev’s visit to Armenia in August.