Edward Nalbandyan, “Russian President’s state visit to Armenia testifies the highest level of relations between the two countries”

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan gave interview to “Rossia-24” TV Channel.

-Mr. Nalbandyan, thank you for agreeing to answer to our questions. If we speak about relations between our countries, I think we can put aside the diplomatic cold language and pass to the direct meaning of words. If we refer to friendly relations, we can really call the relations of Armenia and Russia friendly, without any mental reservation. As for the dynamics of those issues, where are they running?

-I do not think it is enough to say only “friendly”. We are getting prepared for the state visit of the Russian President. Only the visit’s being state says that our relations are on the highest level. Only during the last 2 years 2 dozen of high-level meetings have been held. It already says much. When we say that we are strategic partners, these are not just words, as the strategic partnership and allied cooperation cannot be solid if there are no deep ties between peoples, if there are no sympathy and warmth in human relations. The friendship between Armenian and Russian people has been experienced by time. We have never been in different parts of barricades and throughout the history our fathers and grandfathers have repeatedly fought in different battles, in the Great Patriotic War inclusive. The whole grown-up population of masculine gender participated in the Great Patriotic War. In the soviet army there were 60 Generals of Armenian descent. Names like the Marshals Baghramyan and Babajanyan, Khudjakov, Admiral Isakov are the pride of both Russia and Armenia. During Medvedev’s visit the Armenian and Russian Presidents will take part in the opening ceremony of a complex dedicated to the memory of Russian soldiers killed during the Armenian-Russian wars of the 19th century. Together with Russian commanders here a tribute of honor is also paid to Russian commanders of Armenian descent– to Loris Melikov, Lazarev. Not only servicemen and commanders but many state officials, art and science figures as well appear to be our common national pride. Everybody knows the names of Aram Khachatryan and Hovhanes Ayvazovski. We have been always together both in peace and during hard times. Today, too, the Armenian-Russian relations serve as the most efficient and succeeded example of bilateral cooperation in the post-soviet territory.

-Of course, the history, interpersonal and cultural relations play a huge role. Economy and investments are of significance, too. On what level is the economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia today?

-Russia is a very important commercial and economic partner for Armenia; it is the main investor in Armenia. Russia is also the main foreign market of consumption of Armenian products. Cooperation is developing between us in the sphere of energy. The total volume of Russian investments in Armenia makes 2 billion 750 million USD. Today 1400 enterprises work in Armenia with the Russian capital. There is a serious legal-agreement field, nearly 200 agreements and contracts are signed. We are preparing new agreements and update the old ones. We will do our best to expand, strengthen and develop the economic relations between the 2 countries.

-There are many sides in the relations of the two states. We referred to economy and history, let’s speak of the humanitarian sphere; how do Russia and Armenia cooperate?

-No doubt, we attach huge importance to the humanitarian sphere of the cooperation, including to exchanges in such spheres as culture, education, science, healthcare, tourism, sport, conduction of cultural days and festivals. A great attention is paid to the Russian language. Forty schools operate currently in Armenia, where there are classes taught the subjects in Russian. Over 3000 students study at the Slavonic University in Russian. Russian TV Channels are available in all the Armenian settlements. I would like to mention that Russian newspapers are published as well. The majority of the mass media have Russian versions in their websites. All this is very important for preservation and strengthening of spiritual and cultural common features between the two countries, and we will continue to treat that sphere of cooperation with high attention.

- Armenia is also a country, where there are still Russian soldiers and a Russian base. During the visit of the Russian President changes are intended to be made in the treaty on the Russian base. Which are these changes?

-The changes concern the extension of the term of the 1995 treaty. If the 1995 treaty worked with a term of 25 years, now that term will be 49 years, beginning from 1995. Simultaneously, there will be more distinct formulation that the Russian military base, simultaneously with defense of the profits of Russia, will provide the security of Armenia together with Armenian armed forces. For that very purpose the Russian party will support Armenia with up-to-date military engineering.

- What can you say on that occasion about the mediatory efforts of Russia in regulation of the Karabakh conflict? At what level is the negotiation process?

-We highly assess the mediation efforts of Russia as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. Russian President Medvedev exerts considerable efforts for the peaceful regulation of the issue. On his very initiative and with his presence a number of meetings have been held between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, which have been very useful. On the assignment of the presidents negotiations have run also at a level of foreign ministers, by mediation of Minister Lavrov. These mediatory efforts of Russia are supported by the other co-chairs – USA and France. During this year’s meeting of the presidents in Saint Petersburg the parties were presented the last version of the Madrid document. Armenia is ready to continue the negotiations on this version of the Madrid document.

-Just about the foreign political activity and security coordination: Russia has put forth an initiative on signing a security contract, The document is of great importance. How does Armenia assess that document and what kind of role must it play first of all?

-The foreign policy coordination is implemented on the basis of an agreement signed between the two countries in 1992. One-year or two-yea consultation programs are agreed between the Foreign Affairs Ministries. Only in 2010, 12 consultations will be held between the foreign ministries. We coordinate our activity within the frameworks of the CIS, CSTO and within a number of international organizations and forums in the UN, OSCE, etc. As for the initiative of the Russian President on European security contract, we stand up for that initiative, which has very important elements, like the providing of equal, joint security for all the states of the Euro-Atlantic region and Eurasia. This proposal says us that it is inadmissible that the security of one state is provided at the price of another, the unacceptability of isolation of any state is pointed out as well. We stand up for that initiative.

-I would like us to refer to tourism as well. That cooperation is very interesting as it shows how much the two peoples are interested in each other. While walking in Yerevan we can see that there are many foreigners from the USA, Europe, from anywhere. And how the Russian tourism is presented here, for example, the winter one? We know that there is a mountain-skiing resting place here. Do people visit that place with pleasure and how does Armenia attract tourists? -Armenia is attractive for tourism in many respects. Both the winter and summer tourism, and even the ecological tourism are of interest. There are many tourists who arrive from other countries. Taking into consideration that the largest Armenian community is in Russia, which appears to be a very important link, a unique bridge between Armenia and Russia, many Russians of Armenian descent visit Armenia, as well as many Russian tourists, who traditionally pay Armenia from the soviet times. All this is currently receiving a new impetus, for new complexes are constructed, new opportunities and infrastructures are created in the sphere of tourism, and all that attracts more and more people.

-Mr. Nalbandyan, thank you very much for answering to all our questions. I personally see that the relations between Russia and Armenia are very successful, and we hope that so it will be continued.

- So it will be. Thank you.