Ministry of foreign affairs of Russia: Armenian-Russian cooperation corresponds to the level of strategic partnership

YEREVAN, January 14. /ARKA/. “Armenian-Russian cooperation corresponds to the level of strategic partnership”, said Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia during the press-conference on Wednesday.

“Armenia is our strategic partner and ally and our relations completely correspond to it. Our presidents frequently meet with each other and sign agreements on deepening the partnership”, he said. Lavrov was in Armenia on January 13-14. During the meeting with his Armenian colleague, Lavrov discussed the process of implementation of agreements signed between the presidents.

Both parties stated that the process goes on successfully. The parties discussed also mutual trade-economic relations undertaken in the direction of elimination of crisis consequences. They emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation of the regions having high potential. One of the important directions of cooperation is humanitarian relations which develop through the Board and Fund of NIS humanitarian cooperation.

“On the basis of Russian Center of science and culture in Yerevan, last month Center of Russian language was established and this month Center of innovative technologies will be established. We agreed that Russian side on behalf of Diplomatic academy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Moscow State University of International Relations will assist in the establishment of Diplomatic academy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia”, said the Minister.

The parties also discussed the issues of future representation of Russia in NIS, particularly preparation for the Board Meeting of NIS Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 25, 2010. “We discussed issues of regional security, regulation of Karabakh problem. Russia will assist in gaining agreement of solving Karabakh problem during negotiations of both parties”, said Lavrov.

He thanked Armenia for the support in reconstruction of the monument to the memory of 156 officers of Russian army in Gyumri who died during Russian-Turkish war in 1855 and 1877-1878. Opening of the memorial will be one of the important events in the frames of celebration of 65th anniversary of victory of World War II in Armenia. --0—