Nikol Pashinyan Hosts Dmitry Medvedev at Government Residence

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has hosted Dmitry Medvedev, the head of the government of the Russian Federation, at the government residence. Medvedev arrived in Armenia on a working visit to participate in the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

“Dear Dmitry Anatolyevich, I am glad to welcome you in Armenia, in Yerevan, in my home. This is your first visit after the well-known events in Armenia last year, which gives this visit a special significance. In Armenia, it is customary to welcome our most valued guests at home, and I am very happy to have this opportunity. I believe that our relations have developed as anticipated over the past year, although this does not mean there haven’t been questions. I think we are at a very crucial moment in our relations, and I am confident that despite the pessimists, we will succeed in elevating our relations to a new level, not just in defiance of pessimism, but rather I think we should turn the pessimists into optimists. Of course, we will do everything for that,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

“Armenia is currently the presiding state in the Eurasian Economic Union. Our relations within the Eurasian Economic Union are very important, and our participation in this organization is crucial. Naturally, we will do everything to make the Eurasian Economic Union and our membership in the EAEU more effective and to make the organization more attractive. Once again, I welcome you, I am pleased with your visit, and I am confident that we will have very constructive and fruitful work ahead. We have issues to discuss, and thank you for your visit,” Pashinyan added.

In turn, Dmitry Medvedev stated, “Dear Nikol Vovovich, first of all, thank you for the invitation, especially during such a wonderful time, as today features perfect spring weather. Secondly, there is indeed a good reason for us to meet, which is the meeting of the heads of governments of the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. We regularly hold this event, where various issues, including difficult ones, are discussed. Now, Armenia is the presiding state in the Eurasian Union, and of course, it is important for us to move forward on various issues of the Eurasian agenda.

“On the other hand, this is a good opportunity to also discuss our bilateral relations. We have met several times to discuss the current state of affairs, and we also met at the beginning of the year when you visited Moscow as the Prime Minister of the presiding country, during which we discussed bilateral agenda issues. Now, we will cover the main points, especially since our partners have prepared a number of questions for us. Thank you for inviting me for an informal conversation; it is highly appreciated. It is an opportunity to get to know each other better and to discuss various aspects of our bilateral cooperation in a more informal atmosphere. I hope that your presidency in the Eurasian Union will be absolutely successful and that our negotiations, as well as those of our partners, will contribute to the development of cooperation between our two countries, especially since our countries are allies with a unique history of relations, and I hope for a very good future. Once again, thank you for the invitation,” Medvedev emphasized.

During the meeting, the two discussed current issues related to Armenian-Russian trade-economic collaboration and integration cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.