Armenian PM, Russian FM discuss agenda of bilateral relations in Yerevan
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who arrived in Yerevan on an official visit.
Welcoming the Russian FM, PM Pashinyan said: “Last time you paid an official visit to Armenia two years ago. That time very great changes took place in Armenia, and I want to state that as a result of those changes the relations of our countries received a new dynamics. After being elected as PM of Armenia I had numerous meetings with the Russian President, Prime Minister. In the past 1.5 year I had a chance to host in Yerevan the Russian President, the PM, recently the defense minister arrived in Armenia, many high-ranking officials visit Armenia, and I think that there is really a new dynamics in our relations. Recently we reached an agreement that next year I will pay an official visit to Russia which will be followed by the official visit of the Russian leader to Armenia”.
Pashinyan said Armenia had an effective chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union, reminding that recently the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was held in Yerevan. “I think, it was an unprecedented event with its scale, and I am very happy that during our chairmanship we signed an agreement with Singapore and Serbia, the free trade agreements with Iran and China entered into force. In this context our economic relations are successfully developing and we hope this year the trade turnover will reach 2 billion USD which is a very good result. All these create very important signal for the further development of strategic, allied relations between our countries. I am confident that your visit will give a new impetus to our allied relations, and of course, as you announced recently, I am also optimistic about the further development of our relations. I am happy to once again welcome you in Yerevan”, Pashinyan said.
In his turn the Russian FM thanked for the reception and conveyed the warm greetings of the Russian President and Prime Minister to the Armenian PM. “You met with the Russian President four times this year, as well as with the PM. We have very close contacts in terms of economic agencies. As you mentioned, our other agencies also are closely cooperating. Recently our defense minister, healthcare minister, State Duma Speaker were in Armenia, therefore, we have very close contacts at all directions”, Sergey Lavrov said, adding that the Armenian-Russian inter-regional forum will take place soon.
“We are happy also for the development of the bilateral trade turnover, it constantly grows. Russia is Armenia’s key economic partner, the first investor in Armenia’s economy. Our cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States, is under our spotlight, and we congratulate Armenia on a very effective chairmanship in the EAEU. A very important event, the CSTO summit will take place in Bishkek in several weeks where as well we should move forward our cooperation connected with the military-political security and the allied partnership”, the Russian FM said.
Thereafter, the Armenian PM and the Russian FM discussed the bilateral agenda-related issues touching upon the political and economic cooperation.
The sides exchanged views on regional issues, including the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Pashinyan highlighted Russia’s key role in maintaining security, stability and peace in the region.
Nikol Pashinyan and Sergey Lavrov emphasized the importance of the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group and the need to implement humanitarian projects for forming an atmosphere of mutual trust between the conflicting sides.
