Lavrov: Today Armenia and Russia stand in front of massive combined  issues on peacekeeping, stabilization and safety in Southern Caucasus 

ArmInfo. Russian MFA Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote an article 'Russia and Armenia centuries-old traditions of friendship and trust to 25th anniversary of diplomatic  relations' which was published in the Novoe Vremya newspaper. 

"April 3, 2017 is being celebrated a remarkable event- 25th  anniversary of Russian-Armenian diplomatic relations. This date  symbolizes a new stage of Russian-Armenian relations, counting not  one century. We are connected by old traditions of friendship and  bilateral support, cultural and spiritual relations.

 "I could state action that not only we treated with respect to  national distinctiveness of one another, but also generously shared  our achievements. Names of many Armenians is an  integral part of  historical origins of Russian history. In Russia is well known and  remembered painter  I.K.Aivazovsky, academic V.A. Hambarzumyan and  brothers I.A and L.A Orbeli, admiral I.S. Isakov, Marshal  I.K.Baghramyan and A.K. Babadjanyan, composers A.I Khachaturyan and  M.L. Tariverdiev. And this is only a small party of long list" he  wrote.

 "Russia and Armenia through the ages connect strong traditions of  friendship, bilateral respect, trust and support. With united efforts  the relations between the two states have been brought to a new  qualified level of allied cooperation. The hopeful basis of bilateral  cooperation became Agreement of Friendship, cooperation and bilateral  support between Russia and Armenia from August 27 1997 and  Declaration of allied cooperation between Russia and Armenia oriented  in XXI century, from September 26, 2000.  Substantial and  confidential political dialogue is described by high intensity at the  highest level. In a joint statement of Russian and Armenian  Presidents confirmed bilateral motivation of further strengthening of  Russian-Armenian partnership in all the areas as a result of talks in  Moscow on March 15, 2017.  Interregional relations are being widened,  involving 70 entities  of Russia and all administrative territorial  units in Armenia. Intergovernmental cooperative program is being  implemented in this field from 2016 to 2021.

The main attention is paid to deepening of cultural-humanitarian  relations, contacts with people. This, surely, will promote in  February 2017 accepted regulation of traveling of Russian residents  to Armenia via domestic passports. The essential contribution in  further spiritual closeness of natures brings progressive development  of Para church dialogue. This year turns 300 year of Russian and  New-Naxchevan Eparchies forming in Armenian Apostolic Church. 

The most important essential of many-sided Russian-Armenian  partnership remains beneficial cooperation of diplomatic services.  Lavrov highly appreciates trustworthy dialogue with my Armenian  colleague Edward Nalbandian. Our talks in Moscow from February 21-23,  2017 confirmed the coincidence or essential closeness of approaches  on main problems of modern times.

 "We intensively cooperate in leading many-sided areas. Together with  Yerevan we promote wider expansion of noticeable potentials of CIS  and CSTO. We strengthen foreign political coordination within UN,  OSCE, European Union and BSEC. 

"Russia is active participant of Naghorno-Karabakh settlement.  Together with USA and France and other Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group  we help the sides to reach firm settlement of the conflict. The  decision of this issue is dedicated to previous year's initiative of  Russian President three sided summit in Saint Petersburg. The theme  of Naghorno Karabakh settlement is being discussed in details during  two sided meetings of Putin with Armenian and Azerbaijani  Governments, also during many contacts between the MFA Ministers. We  managed to agree on many issues; only a few issues are left, not so  complicated, though. However it is obvious that the results of work  depend, firstly, on political will of the sides, on their readiness  to show flexibility and reach compromised decisions", Lavrov's   statement reads.