ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN LEADERS PRAISE "STRATEGIC" RELATIONSHIP

Mediamax
Oct 21 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 21 October: Strategic relations with Russia have never become
an obstacle for Armenia to develop relations and cooperate with other
countries, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated in Yerevan today.

Mediamax reports that Serzh Sargsyan said this, speaking at a joint
news conference with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev.

"One can not find friends by force, let alone keep them. Openness
and transparency are the characteristic of our relations, and we
believe that the strength of our friendship is particularly in mutual
confidence," Serzh Sargsyan stated. The Armenian president described as
"very good" today's level of Armenian-Russian relations.

In his turn, Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev stated that
Armenian-Russian relations "are backed by the centuries-old friendship
of the two peoples".

"The opening of the "Square of Russia", which took place in Yerevan
today, evidences the fact that our relations are backed not by
pragmatic, international or even internal interests, but by a
centuries-old friendship. This is the most valuable point in our
relations, and we should preserve it forever," the Russian president
summed up.