Talks extended well beyond the scheduled time.
Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko held talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The meeting was part of an official visit by Russian parliamentarians to Yerevan.
The discussions took place in a one-on-one format and lasted significantly longer than initially planned. Following this, the conversation continued in an expanded format.
Following the meeting, Valentina Matvienko told journalists that the visit to Armenia was both timely and highly relevant. “We have arrived with a very high-profile delegation, including senators, deputies, and heads of regions. This underlines our commitment to evaluating bilateral relations and advancing them further.”
Valentina Matvienko described the talks with Nikol Pashinyan as highly substantive, constructive, and amicable. “There is a shared understanding of the developments in the South Caucasus region, as well as the need to update the bilateral agenda in response to the new realities “on the ground.” We have comprehensively reviewed the full range of our bilateral relations. The primary focus has been trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. Additionally, we discussed issues relating to humanitarian, cultural, and educational collaboration.”
According to Valentina Matvienko, during the expanded talks, the Armenian Prime Minister once again highlighted that all necessary conditions had been created for Russian businesses in Armenia, ensuring a favourable economic, commercial, and investment climate.
The Speaker of the Federation Council also noted that the events during the visit proceeded smoothly, efficiently, and with clear strategic direction. “These include a session of the Interparliamentary Commission and the 10th anniversary regional forum. Both Armenia and Russia are keen to develop and expand interregional cooperation. More than 70 Russian constituent entities already engage with Armenia to varying degrees, with 20 having signed relevant legal agreements. This is mutually beneficial cooperation – focused, substantive, and spanning economic, investment, and humanitarian fields.”
Valentina Matvienko highlighted that the Russian delegation’s visit coincided with International Russian Language Day, observed on 6 June and established by the United Nations in honour of Alexander Pushkin’s birthday. “In Armenia, Pushkin is deeply revered – several monuments to our great poet have been erected here. During our parliamentary discussions, we addressed the need to enhance cooperation in the field of education, including through a dedicated working group on Russian textbooks. All these initiatives have the full support of the government,” the Speaker remarked to the media.
“Overall, the Russian language is respected in Armenia. The Prime Minister supports the establishment of a Russian school in Yerevan under the auspices of the Russian Embassy, with potential sites under active consideration. I am confident that this project will progress. Furthermore, Armenia plans to set up a centre for gifted children, modelled on Sirius. This represents another promising area for cooperation, including at the parliamentary level.”
At the same time, Valentina Matvienko pointed out that while six countries have already joined the International Organisation for the Russian Language, Armenia has yet to ratify the relevant agreement. “The Prime Minister has promised to issue instructions to review this matter and provide it with further impetus,” she stated.
“Armenia has demonstrated a clear interest in expanding and deepening multifaceted bilateral cooperation. It is now crucial that the agreements reached are implemented, which we will actively pursue,” concluded the Speaker of the Federation Council.