Azernews.Az

MOSCOW – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan on his 57th birthday in a phone conversation, according to the Kremlin’s website.

Sargsyan thanked the Russian president for the congratulations and the hospitality extended during a recent meeting held in Kazan, as well as the organization of "substantial and constructive" talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

President Medvedev hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan in the Volga city of Kazan last Friday. No breakthrough was achieved during the talks, though both the mediating countries and the conflict parties had made statements urging to sign an agreement on a roadmap for settling the two decade-long Karabakh conflict.

Medvedev also sent a congratulatory message to Sargsyan. He wrote that under his leadership, Armenia has been making "steady progress" in state-building, social and economic reforms and strengthening its positions in the international arena. "The stable and progressive development of the republic has earned you the reputation of a highly respected politician," the message says.

"Your significant personal contribution to the development of Armenian-Russian allied relations is also highly valued. The atmosphere established in the course of our regular and fruitful contacts is conducive to constructive discussion of a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, which I greatly appreciate."

The Russian president expressed confidence that "our mutual commitment" to deepening the multi-faceted bilateral relations and enhancing economic cooperation are "vitally important factors" in strengthening the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership and ensuring peace and stability in Transcaucasia."