The venue for Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's first official visit abroad -- Moscow -- came as no surprise. But, in a potential sign of a fresh Armenian foreign policy initiative, it was Turkey that stole the show.

Sargsyan's June 23-25 trip was designed to emphasize the importance of Armenia's "strategic partnership' with Russia. There were the usual touches -- meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and the chairs of both chambers of parliament. He also placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and met with political experts and journalists.

And there were the usual expressions of mutual support. In a June 24 statement, Medvedev described the partnership between Moscow and Yerevan as critical to the entire South Caucasus. The two countries have declared that they will coordinate their foreign policy to further that relationship. "We are confident that close cooperation between Russia and Armenia is a pledge for the stable