State reception held by the President of Armenia in honor of the RF President who is in Armenia on a state visit

Tonight, President Serzh Sargsyan held a state reception in honor of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin who is in Armenia on a state visit.
In his toast addressed to the President of Russia and members of his representable delegation – ministers, heads of regions, heads of companies, representatives of Russia’s scientific and creative intelligentsia, Serzh Sargsyan spoke about warm and sincere relations of the Armenian and Russian peoples which date back centuries. Serzh Sargsyan underscored that they are precious for every Armenian and are reflected in the “Word of St. Theodosius, Father Superior of Pechersky Monastery” and in the “Debates of Ilarion Meglinski” created respectively in the XI and XII centuries.
According to the President, the Armenian-Russian relations have deep roots and glorious traditions and may be characterized as a continual union based on a friendship which became our common wealth, property and pride. “Armenia’s notable sons such as Michael Loris-Melikov, the Minister of Interior of the Russian Empire and Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Commission, made their considerable contribution to the development of the historical ties of our two nations, Ivan Delyanov, Minister of National Education of the Russian Empire, general Madatov, Lazarian brothers and many others. Their valiant deeds were carried on during the heroic years of the Great Patriotic War by Marshals Baghramian, Khamferiants-Khudyakov, Babajanian, Admiral Isakov and many others. In the constellation of outstanding sons of the Armenian nation, who contributed to the power and grandeur of the Russian state, I can’t help mentioning recently departed Gevork Vardanian – a man-legend, fabled intelligence agent, the Hero of the Soviet Union. These heroes of our common history many decades ago gave a ton to the combat fraternity of our two nations.
Vladimir Vladimirovich, you today’s visit to the 102nd Russian military base has become a great impetus for its entire staff. Moreover, it was a clear signal to all those who may doubt the sincerity and adequacy of our allied relations, or underestimate potential of our strategic partnership.
Residents of Gyumri and Armenia appreciate the emblematic nature to this visit on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the 1988 horrendous earthquake which leveled the town and claimed lives of tens of thousands of its people. From the first of the tragedy and until now, Russia has done a lot for its rehabilitation. Thanks to the Russian loan, which was provided during the dire financial global crisis, in Gyumri built were thousands of new apartments and houses, which allowed to provide with housing people who were living in temporary shelters for decades and at the same time to offer jobs to hundreds of the Armenian construction workers. I would like to once again acknowledge with gratitude the National Hero of Armenian Nikolay Ryzhkov who is present here,” President Serzh Sargsyan said.
The President of Armenia reminded those present that the visit of the RF President coincided with an important jubilee: these days in Armenia we celebrated the 75th anniversary of Stanislavski Drama Theater which is indeed a temple which symbolized cultural interpenetration of the two peoples. On behalf of all attendees, Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the theater and its artistic director Alexander Griogrian and underscored that the theater is under constant attention of the RA government.
In his remarks, President Sargsyan expressed also gratitude to the author of the Unified Cross monument opened today in Yerevan, which symbolizes the Armenian-Russian friendship and the memorial in Gyumri dedicated to the victims of the earthquake, celebrated sculptor Frid Soghoyan and his sons.
Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership and allied cooperation will continue to expand for the benefit of two states and their citizens, for the benefit of regional stability and enforced security. The President said that Vladimir Putin’s visit, undoubtedly, has already become a milestone on that route.
In his toast, the RF President V. Putin spoke with admiration and profound esteem about, in his words, the Armenian nation – a bearer of the ancient, deep-rooted European culture and Armenia, underscored Armenia’s noticeably significant contribution to the common state made decades ago, noting that all that was not accidental. Vladimir Putin noted that many objective reasons unite the Armenian and Russian peoples and two states. Stressing that bilateral relations developed on a strong basis of the past and spiritual closeness of the two friendly nations, the RF President spoke with confidence about the future of these relations. “I am confident that the decision of the Armenian leadership to join the Customs Union and Eurasian economic area is rooted in the traditions which were established by our predecessors in past decades and centuries. It was a conscientious, weighted decision and it opens new opportunities for the development of our relations on a new basis. I have no doubt that they will be not less cordial and efficient than they were in the preceding decades and centuries. I would like to thank you for it,” the President of the Russian Federation said.