President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, who is on a working visit to St. Petersburg, met with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

“The President of Russia noted: “I’m very glad to meet and get to know you.

I hope you didn’t regret coming and participating in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

We have been holding this event for 25 years, at least it has become a landmark for Russia. I hope for our partners as well.

Armenia is not only our partner, it is our strategic ally, we appreciate it. We understand everything that is happening in and around Armenia today. We are interested in ensuring that the situation in the country is stable and guarantees development.

I hope that our meeting today will also contribute to this.

So I am very glad to see you, welcome.

President Khachaturyan, in particular, noted: “I was in St. Petersburg a long time ago. I often visited during the years of the Soviet Union, from the 1980s to 1992. This is an occasion to see how the city has changed, and I can give an assessment as a former mayor of Yerevan and note that the city really looks very good, so clean, so beautiful.

As for the St. Petersburg Forum, this is my first time participating, but as an economist I have always followed it and highly appreciated it, because very interesting and important discussions are being held in economic terms. Thanks for the invitation.

The Armenian people appreciate your efforts aimed at the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I can say that the efforts you have made to end the war are appreciated not only by me personally, but I also know that the people of Armenia also appreciate it. It was very important that the war stopped. It is also very important for us that the agreements reached are respected.

I think it is superfluous to mention our historical friendship, because when the relationship is fraternal, there is no need to say: you are a good brother or you are a bad brother. Fraternal relations are like this, this is the essence and philosophy, this is everything, this is trust, sincerity, joint projects and joint actions that must be continued. This is my position as a citizen, as a person and as a president, this approach certainly helps me.

I’m sure that our relations will continue to develop in the future, and we must support them.

A wide range of issues on the Armenian-Russian agenda were touched upon at the meeting.”