YEREVAN (Itar Tass)–The “traditionally friendly relations” between Russia and Armenia “are on the rise today,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a written statement on Thursday.
Lavrov’s comments were read by Russia’s ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko during welcoming remarks to participants and guests at the “Expo: Russia Armenia 2009” industrial exhibition in Yerevan.
These relations, Lavrov’s letter said, are based on “a firm foundation of strategic partnership and alliance, principles of mutual advantage and respect for national interests.”
“The peoples of Russia and Armenia have always been connected by spiritual closeness, close mutual interaction of cultures, feelings of mutual sympathy,” Lavrov said in the statement. “Trade and economic ties dynamically develop, trade turnover stably grows, Russian investments play ever more weighty role in the development of key sectors of the Armenian economy.”
“An important role in the strengthening of Russian-Armenian interaction belongs to such forums as “Expo-Russia Armenia,” Lavrov’s statement said, adding that this exposition is aimed at giving “an opportunity to representatives of state agencies, business circles, civil society to exchange experience, agree on new mutually advantageous projects.”
In reading the letter, Vyacheslav said the Russian foreign minister “is confident that the exhibition will make its contribution to the efforts of deepening all-round cooperation between Russia and Armenia, and will promote the raising of well-being of our peoples.”