Armenia is one of Russia's closest allies and a strategic partner in the South Caucasus. This is noted in a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on the 26th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.
"On this day in 1997, a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed between Russia and Armenia. The document marked the beginning of the modern phase of interstate relations. Armenia and Russia have agreed to strengthen traditional friendship and multilateral cooperation relations in political, economic, military, scientific, cultural and other domains in every possible way. Also, the [two] countries have committed to work together to improve stability and security both in the South Caucasus and around the world. The signing of the [aforesaid] agreement created conditions for the expansion of the Russian-Armenian political dialogue, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the commercial, economic, scientific, technical, humanitarian and other domains," also reads the Russian MFA statement.
In the future, the legal basis of bilateral relations has been expanded to 200 documents, and systematic work is being done to implement them.
The Russian MFA added that Russian-Armenian relations continue to develop in accordance with the principles established by the 1997 treaty. Among them are mutual respect for state sovereignty and independence, equality of rights, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and non-use of force or threat of force.
