Xinhua, China
March 21 2005
Russian, Armenian leaders vow to further ties for full cooperation
2005-03-21 23:13:47
MOSCOW, March 21 (Xinhuanet) — Russian President Vladimir Putin
and his Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharyan, on Monday vowed to
further ties for full cooperation between the two former Soviet
republics.
On the opening day of “the Year of Russia in Armenia,” Putin
hailed the Russo-Armenian friendship as “reliable and strategic.”
“Russia invariably attaches great importance to strengthening
friendly contacts with Armenia — its reliable and strategic
partner,” the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying in a
message.
The Russian leader expressed confidence that “the Year of Russia
in Armenia” will promote rapprochement, friendship and direct
dialogue between the two nations.
He also underlined the 60th anniversary of the victory of
WorldWar II as an important opportunity for bettering ties.
Both countries will pay “tribute to heroism of all those who were
shoulder-to-shoulder fighting against fascism,” said Putin.
The Armenian president said in his message that the “Year of
Russia” opened opportunities in the Caucasian country for full
cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields between
thefraternal peoples.
“I am confident that ‘the Year of Russia in Armenia’ will help
enrich the agenda of the Russo-Armenian cooperation with new ideasand
projects,” Kocharyan noted, adding that the event “is of symbolic
significance” as it coincides with celebrations of the 60th
anniversary of victory over fascism.
Russia maintains close relations with Armenia after the Soviet
Union dissolved in 1991. Armenia is one of the Collective
SecurityTreaty grouping several other ex-Soviet republics such as
Kazakhstan Tajikistan and Belarus. Enditem