The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan received Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin on September 23.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the Armenian-Russian relations are at a high level, expressing confidence that the effective cooperation will continue. Suren Papikyan congratulated the Russian Ambassador on the occasion of the Russian State Duma elections, emphasizing that they create new preconditions for the implementation of programs and ideas. During the conversation, the importance of cooperation between the Armenian National Assembly and the Russian State Duma was highlighted for the deepening and strengthening the Armenian-Russian relations.
It was noted that after the elections in both countries, a stage of political stability and certainty opens, which can raise the inter-parliamentary cooperation to a new level.
Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin praised the cooperation with Suren Papikyan in the past, noting that good experience has been accumulated, on the basis of which wide preconditions have been created for the implementation of forthcoming programs. The Russian Ambassador expressed the readiness of the Russian side to cooperate in all spheres, assuring that the positive results will not be delayed.

The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Armenian-Russian relations, touching upon the issues of security, defense, energy, infrastructure, new technologies and business development. The sides referred to the operation of the South Caucasus Railway, emphasizing its importance in the development of Armenia's economy, as well as the fact that after upgrading the railway capacity, it opens new opportunities for the development of the socio-economic and other related sectors.

The parties also discussed effective cooperation in energy sector. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the latter is of strategic importance for Armenia, and its multifaceted development is vital for the implementation of the Government Action Plan. In this context, the interlocutors referred to the expansion of cooperation with Rosatom, as well as the current work on the renovation and modernization of the NPP, as well as the need and prospects for the construction of a new nuclear power plant.As a recent example of Armenian-Russian partnership, the fact of production of the first batches of the Russian single-component vaccine "Sputnik Light" in Armenia was mentioned.

Regarding the reopening of communications in the region, Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan pointed out Russia's special and effective role both within the framework of the trilateral format and the OSCE Minsk Group. The situation on the Goris-Kapan road was also discussed, emphasizing Russia's strong and constructive role in easing tensions and finding solutions to emerging issues.