President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov.
Welcoming the President, Minister Lavrov stated:
“Thank you for this opportunity to meet with you, to convey greetings from President Vladimir Putin, and to express the hope that you will welcome the productive negotiations we have held here today. These talks follow up the instructions given to us by the President and the Prime Minister. In January, my counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan was in Moscow; now I am in Yerevan. The regional forum will be held soon. It is important that last fall our leaders agreed to fully restore our contacts, and as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, we are fulfilling that instruction.
Today, we assess the discussions as very useful and open. We are not ignoring any nuances, even where our positions fully coincide. The more honest and transparent we are with each other, the easier it will be to implement everything that is mutually beneficial for both Armenia and Russia.
We are allies, strategic partners. Today, we reaffirmed our allied relations and our mutual commitment to our obligations. I believe this has been a significant and constructive political moment.”
In turn, President Khachaturyan expressed his gratitude for the visit, stating:
“Your visit is indeed of great significance for our relations. We have already seen some positive activity in our relations this year, and I believe this will continue. Thank you for President Putin’s greetings. Please convey my warmest regards to him as well. We last met in Turkmenistan, where we had a very interesting conversation.
We have not forgotten, and we highly value, the positive aspects of our relationship. These positive developments must be continued. Our relations must evolve under mutually beneficial conditions, as you also mentioned. Indeed, in cases of misunderstanding, there must be open and honest dialogue. Any issue can be resolved through transparent communication.
This year, Valentina Matvienko is also expected to visit Armenia, which is another important event. Additionally, the Days of Armenian Culture in Russia are planned, which are also significant.
I am confident that the steps taken by both the Russian and Armenian leaderships are aimed at further deepening bilateral relations in all sectors. The proposals made by Armenia and Russia regarding regional issues and the development of relations, the sphere of securityare of great importance to us. I appreciate your visit in this context and am confident it will contribute to strengthening our ties.”
According to the Presidential Office, the meeting also addressed the strengthening of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. Special attention was given to opportunities for economic and decentralized cooperation, including investment promotion and the continuous development of infrastructure.
The sides also exchanged views on the regional situation, emphasizing the importance of establishing stable and lasting peace. It was stressed that Armenia-Russia cooperation should develop on the basis of mutual benefit, respect, and trust.
