Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Armenia's new Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held their first meeting in Sochi today.
"I want to wish you success as the head of the government and hope that our relations will develop as progressively as before," Putin told Nikol Pashinyan.
The Russian president noted that Russia views Armenia as its closest partner and ally in the region in terms of both economic cooperation and security issues, the Kremlin press service reported.
Putin voiced hope that "very good results" of Russian-Armenian economic cooperation will multiply. He recalled that Russia remains Armenia’s leading trade and economic partner, which accounts for more than 25 percents of the country’s trade turnover and Russia’s investments reach 35 percents of all investments in Armenia’s economy, adding that imports of Armenia's agricultural products are growing, namely a 38-percent growth was recorded last month.
Putin assured Pashinyan that Moscow will continue active cooperation with Yerevan on the international arena, in international organizations, including the United Nations, where Armenia and Russia have always supported each other.
Pashinyan, in turn, confirmed that Russia and Armenia are strategic partners. "We are determined to give a new impetus to these relations in political terms and trade and economic area." He also expressed hope to develop military and technical cooperation with Russia.
The new Armenian prime minister stressed: "We highly appreciate the balanced position which Russia showed during our domestic political crisis." "This was a very constructive position. I think both our government and the Armenian society in general value this."
