Azernews.Az

YERAVAN – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev started his visit to Yerevan on Thursday by visiting a monument to the victims of the alleged Ottoman-era genocide of Armenians.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan opined at a dinner given to the Russian leader and his wife after the welcoming ceremony that  relations between the two countries were a key factor in ensuring stability in the volatile South Caucasus and the issues to be discussed were evidence of that.

Sargsyan said Medvedev’s visit to Yerevan being called "a state visit" was due to the high level of bilateral relations.

"This visit is a very good opportunity to consider the development dynamic of our relationship," Sargsyan said, adding that Armenia was proud of what he called ancient and strong bonds of friendship between the two nations.

"I sensed our confidence that we will move forward from the first minute of the Russian president’s state visit. We will succeed and realize joint programs of vital importance."

Medvedev, for his part, said Russian-Armenian relations were indeed very strong both on the bilateral level and within CIS and the CIS security bloc CSTO. These relations, he said, could be considered exemplary in all respects.

"On complicated historical issues, relations among nations have helped each nation very much, and history is abundant with such examples," the Russian leader added.