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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President,

I wish you a warm welcome to the Kremlin. This visit has the status of state visit and therefore is a special occasion. It also symbolises of course the strategic partnership that binds Russia and Armenia and showcases the recent achievements we consider most important.

As this is a state visit, one expects to see all of the ceremony and fine surroundings that traditionally go with such events, but at the same time, there is also a purely working side to this visit, as we will hold wide-ranging talks today, one on one, and in expanded format, on all of the various aspects of our bilateral cooperation, interregional cooperation, our economic and military-technical ties, and our diverse relations in general. We will also examine the priorities for our work together in regional forums, including the alliances we take part in, such as the CSTO. We will discuss other matters too.

I am very pleased that you are making this big, full-fledged visit. Today, you have already given a lecture, and you will have many other opportunities to meet and discuss matters with your government and parliamentary colleagues here.

Once again, I welcome you to Moscow. This is a particularly important year in the history of our relations because it has been marked by a number of major decisions for the multifaceted ties and alliance between our countries.

”This visit has the status of state visit and therefore is a special occasion. It also symbolises the strategic partnership that binds Russia and Armenia and showcases the recent achievements we consider most important.“

I welcome you once more and wish you successful work and a good stay here in Moscow.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan: First of all, thank you very much, Mr President, for the invitation to make this state visit to Russia. I agree with you that it reflects the special nature of our relations. This is the first such visit in our two countries’ history, and I am grateful for this opportunity of course.

We are happy with the current level of political dialogue. Whether at the presidential, government, or ministerial level, we have an atmosphere in which we can discuss any questions, and I think this is the most important thing in relations between friends.

Our economic relations are showing quite good development. Our bilateral trade and investment are growing from year to year despite the crisis, and I can’t tell you just how important this is for Armenia, which is still in a semi-blockaded situation.

I am pleased that we are to sign today a major agreement on humanitarian cooperation, because this is also a very important sector. We place great importance indeed on this, and so I have come with a good mood.

Thank you for the warm reception and for all the attention you have given us.

Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you, Mr President. Let’s begin work.

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