On a working visit to Russia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with RF President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

The leaders of the two strategic partner countries discussed issues related to the Armenian-Russian agenda and joint efforts in bilateral and multilateral formats. The parties touched upon the further development and expansion of cooperation in a variety of areas, including political, economic, military-technical and other spheres. The interlocutors stressed the importance of continued and consistent furtherance of relationships between the two allied nations, which will contribute to the increase of trade turnover and implementation of investment programs.

Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin also discussed other regional issues of mutual interest.

“Dear Nikol Vovayevich, we recently met with you in Sochi. Taking into account the strategic nature of our relations and the large scope of cooperation in different directions, I think our meetings are a must. I am grateful that you have arrived in Moscow, and we have the opportunity to talk about our bilateral affairs on the margins of an international sporting event. I would like to note that Russia is by far Armenia’s number one trade partner.

Last year, bilateral trade turnover increased by 30%, and this year, too, it keeps growing steadily, largely due to the supply of agricultural products to the Russian market. Of course, Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union has gone a long way to this end. We hope that we will continue to move in that direction. I am glad to meet you today and talk about the entire complex of our relations. Welcome to Russia,” Vladimir Putin said.

“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, allow me to congratulate you on the occasion of Russia Day. Also, I would like to congratulate you on the World Cup 2018 as it is a landmark event at the global scale, and now Moscow is the focus of the world.

Thank you for your invitation. We met a month ago for the first time, and the fact that we are meeting again within 30 days testifies that Armenia and Russia boast featured relations. It also shows that the statements we made a month ago were not just well-motivated; they are being implemented in practice.

Indeed, the Armenian-Russian relations are of special nature. I am confident that they will continue to be unique, and I hope that these relations will become even more specific. Of course, for us, for the Armenian government, which represents the people of Armenia, it is gratifying to enjoy such a warm reception in Russia – in Sochi and in Moscow. And of course, this reflects the atmosphere we have been able to create during these months.

I think that both Armenia and Russia are satisfied with these developments, and I do hope that our relations will develop more effectively on the basis of mutual respect for the best interest and sovereignty of the two States. This is extremely important. It is very important that we have a chance, and I am confident that in the future as well we will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the whole range of our agenda.

It is a well-known fact that we have a hectic agenda: there is much to discuss in economic, political or regional terms. Of course, we hoped for a positive and constructive dialogue, and we have already made sure that the ongoing dialogue is such. I am pleased with it. Thank you very much,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.