Prime Minister Meets with the President of Armenia Wednesday, December 19, 2001 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with President Robert Kocharian of the Republic of Armenia at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Prime Minister Koizumi praised the steady efforts toward democratization and transition to market economy being made by Armenia, as well as its ongoing approach to economic structural reform, and also commended its support of the efforts by the international community to combat terrorism. President Kocharian responded with an expression of gratitude to Japan for the economic assistance to Armenia, and stated that he hoped to see expanded exchanges among private-sector companies. Moreover, the President expressed his support for Japan becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. With a view toward further developing and deepening the friendly relations between the two countries, the two leaders signed the Joint Statement on Friendship and Partnership Between Japan and the Republic of Armenia.