Putin, Kocharyan attend opening ceremony of Year of Russia

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 25, 2005 Friday

YEREVAN, March 25 — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan have arrived at the State Opera and Ballet
theatre on Friday to attend a ceremony of opening the Year of Russia
in Armenia.

The Russian festival that will be held on a large scale in Armenia will
give a powerful impetus to the development of cultural contacts between
Russia and Armenia, a Russian source in Yerevan told Tass on Friday.

The Russian festival is an important stage for the realization of
the Russo- Armenian Declaration on cooperation in 2003-2005 and a
Protocol of Intent in the field of culture, it said.

“Russia invariably attaches great importance to strengthening
of friendly contacts with Armenia – its reliable and strategic
partner,” President Putin said in a message addressed to his Armenian
counterpart on the eve of the festival. “I am confident that the Year
of Russia in Armenia will promote further rapprochement of the two
countries, development of friendship and a direct dialogue between our
people. Events devoted to the 60th anniversary of victory in World War
II are of particular importance in the program of the festival. That is
a tribute paid to the exploit and heroism of all those who shoulder-to
shoulder fought against fascism,” Putin said in the message.

For his part, Robert Kochyaran said in his message to the Russian
president that “the festival “The Year of Russia in Armenia” that
coincides with the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of victory
over fascism is of symbolic significance. This heroic page in our
common history linked the fates of our people and brought them closer
together.”