"Relations between Armenia and Russia are open. Within 8 years of presidency I do not remember any cases when we were not able to come to accord with Russia over hardest issues," Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated during his meeting with students and the teaching staff of the Yerevan State University Faculty of Law. In his words, the forming of the legal framework, encouragement of investments, free trade, economic and military cooperation witness a large basis of bilateral cooperation. At the moment the Armenian-Russian relations evolve. In his words, Russia ranks first in volume of investments in Armenian economy. After the opening of the Abkhaz part of the railway significant growth of Armenian-Russian economic relations.

Answering a question on Russia's role at international arena, the President noted considerable growth of Russia's influence and change of attitude towards that country by European states. Russia with all its resources remains a powerful country. In Kocharian's words, after the collapse of the USSR a considerable decrease of Russia's position at the international arena is observed. However, Russian international authority increases rapidly now and the holding of G8 summit in Russia next year evidences it. "I never doubted Russia will strengthen its stand at the international arena," the Armenian President said.