Moscow: Today Armenia is one of Russia`s closest allies, strategic  partner in South Caucasus

ArmInfo.Today marks the 26th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual  Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

The message of the Russian Foreign Ministry recalls that the  agreement was signed on August 29, 1997.  "This document marked the  beginning of the current stage of interstate relations between our  countries.  In particular, Russia and Armenia agreed to strengthen in  every possible way the traditional relations of friendship and  all-round cooperation in the political, economic, military,  scientific, cultural and other fields.  Our countries also pledged to  cooperate in improving stability and security both in the  Transcaucasian region and throughout the world," the Russian Foreign  Ministry said in a statement in this regard.

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry added that the signing  of the agreement created conditions for expanding the  Russian-Armenian political dialogue, building up bilateral  cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, humanitarian  and other fields. In the future, the legal base of our relations  expanded to 200 documents, systematic work is underway to inventory  them.

"At the present stage, Russian-Armenian relations continue to develop  on the principles enshrined in the 1997 agreement, including mutual  respect for state sovereignty and independence, equality and non-  interference in each other's internal affairs, non-use of force or  threat of force. Today, Armenia is one of the closest allies of  Russia, a strategic partner of our country in the South Caucasus,"  the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.