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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Dear Serzh Azatovich! Dear friends!

I sincerely pleased to visit Armenia once again and to open Russia Square in Yerevan today together with you. This event is more than just a happy one for all of us — it really is remarkable; it confirms the sincerity and authenticity of our fraternal feelings, and speaks to the openness and profundity of relations between our countries.

We are now in the square which has been named in honour of our country. We accept this as a sign of respect for modern democratic Russia, for its people, and do so with a great deal of gratitude. And yet this is also a symbol that honours our common history and recognises the enormous value of our experience of centuries-old friendship. Similar feelings of confidence in Armenia are present in the hearts of Russian citizens.

We value this sincere evidence of good-neighborliness and will do everything to ensure that our strategic partnership becomes stronger and develops, and that the tradition of cross-fertilisation between our cultures expands thanks to new projects and closer relationships between individuals.

Further strengthening the ties between Russia and Armenia requires comprehensive and multifaceted cooperation and an understanding of the obvious advantages associated with the search for joint responses to the range of threats in today's world. I am convinced that concerted action in the international arena will be an important factor in guaranteeing security, as well as strengthening our position in the Caucasus and the world.

Dear friends! Good, friendly neighbours always enjoy each other's successes, and we have seen the achievements of modern Armenia growing before our very eyes, and perhaps they have been especially noticeable in recent years. I will say frankly that we are directly interested in having the Armenian people live in a strong, prosperous and stable nation. I am confident that Armenia wants Russia to benefit from peace, power and goodness.

Our successes represent a necessary condition for our partnership. The main thing is that we have the political will to achieve them and, perhaps most importantly, the corresponding desire of the people, their interest in developing joint business, cultural and educational projects, and in simply communicating the way that close nations, ones that help each other, do.

Once again I would like to say that both I and our entire delegation are very pleased to be in hospitable Armenia on this bright autumn day and will do everything possible to foster our friendship for which the Russia Square in Yerevan has become a vivid symbol.

Thank you for your warm welcome and thank you for your understanding. See you soon.