Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a working visit to Russia, had a meeting on Thursday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The leaders of the two nations, which are strategic partners, discussed a wide range of issues on the Armenian-Russian agenda, including the prospects for integration processes in the Eurasian area, present international and regional problems.

The Armenian and Russian presidents also discussed the current stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, current problems and opportunities for progress in the peace process.

The Russian leader welcomed his Armenian counterpart, saying:

“We have no need to describe our bilateral relations. They are strategic partnership indeed. I am pleased to state this fact and note our relations are successfully developing.

“Of course, we have objective problems. I, first of all, mean our economic cooperation though we are well aware that we can be contented with the foundations of our relations. I have no doubts that, on the basis of the decisions we made jointly during previous years, we will develop this field as well.

“You are chairing the collective security treaty organization this year and I hope greatly that you will prove an effective partner as chair of this international organization, which is responsible for security, battling terrorism and organizes crime, for peace on our borders. And, of course, Armenia’s representative, in the capacity of an official of an international level, is chairing our leading economic union, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). This is the reason we have a great deal to discuss and I am glad to see you,” President Vladimir Putin said.

For his part, the Armenian leader thanked his Russian counterpart and pointed out progressively developing bilateral relations.

“It is a good tradition to meet early in the year to sum up the previous year’s work and set out the guidelines for the current year. In politics, economy, technical, military and humanitarian areas we have full mutual understanding, and the relations are progressing very well. I would like to thank you for implementing the agreements we reached during our previous meetings. As CSTO chair we attach great importance to implementing the decisions we approved at the 9th and 10th CSTO sessions. Of course, we are concerned over the situation in the regions neighboring the area the OSCE is responsible for, and, similarly to my speeches at the December session and on other occasions, I re-affirm our staunch support to Russia’s position on Syria. And we certainly welcome the ceasefire agreement you reached with the United States. It may prove to be a key to a political settlement of the issue,” Mr Sargsyan said.
He also expressed his gratitude to President Vladimir Putin for his personal efforts at a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We are committed to a peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Armenia’s leader said.