Foreign visits
Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to RF
In the framework of his working visit to the Russian Federation, President Serzh Sargsyan met in Moscow with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
President Sargsyan thanked President Putin for the invitation and warm words and underscored that Armenia highly values the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership. According to Serzh Sargsyan, ties between Armenia and Russia in the past and in the present times are anchored in the good relations between the two peoples and for Armenia these relations are steadfast. “It was a historic choice of our peoples. We are highly appreciative of these relations and that’s the reason that we are conducting a consistent policy aimed at the deepening of these relations.
This is our first meeting after the Presidential elections in the Russian Federation, and I would like to note that we have approached the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries with solid reserves in every area, and Your contribution has been significant. We are conducting a consistent policy aimed at the deepening of our relations with Russia. We also like to develop our political dialogue on the highest and other levels.
With this regard, this month is prolific: five high-ranking Russian officials have visited Armenia. Despite the post-crisis period, our turnover has reached a threshold of a billion; I believe it’s not the limit and in the coming two or three years, our turnover can be increased twofold or even threefold. Today, there exists a good cooperation in the humanitarian area which is supported by the large agreement on humanitarian issues signed several months ago.
The military and technical cooperation is also taking up speed. In 2010, we extended the time terms for deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia. We trust that the presence of the Russian military base in Armenia emanates from our security interests. This fall, we will conduct CSTO military exercises in Armenia. Overall, I believe that through the deepening of our relations, we are promoting peace and security in the Caucasus,” President Serzh Sargsyan said at his meeting with the Russian President.
In his turn, President Vladimir Putin also expressed satisfaction with the dynamics of the Armenian-Russian economic cooperation, stressing that the turnover in the first six months of this year has increased by 32 percent. According to the President of the Russian Federation, Russia assertively holds its place among Armenia’s primary trade partners. In President Putin’s words, the Armenian-Russian relations in the economic area are rather diversified. He also noted that on all directions – presidential, governmental, parliamentarian – there are permanent ties which continue to develop. The President of the Russian Federation stressed the importance of the works of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission. President Putin assured that coming fall, there will take place a meeting of the Armenian and Russian counterparts who are tasked to develop a program for the development of the Armenian-Russian economic relations up to 2020 and create a road map.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Presidents of Armenia and Russia gave a joint press conference.
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