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On April 23 the NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov received Ivan Savvidi, former deputy of the RF State Duma, President of the Federation of Greek Communities in the CIS Countries. Arkady Khitarov, Head of the Greek Community in Armenia, also attended the meeting.

Mr Sharmazanov highly appreciated Ivan Savvidi’s contribution in the spheres of politics and business, in the Greeks’ self-organization and integration in the CIS countries, in spreading of Greek culture and Christian values, recording with satisfaction that his joy and appreciation are also greatly conditioned by his Greek roots. The NA Deputy Speaker has noticed that the Armenian-Greek close relations have millennia-long history, today they are going on at state level, and the national, religious and, in general, value system common features give basis the two nations to accept each other as close friends in all parts of the world.

In the course of the meeting problems pertaining to activation of Armenian-Greek economic, cultural, educational relations were discussed.

Mr Savvidi has said that the Greek Union’s goal is to create an opportunity that the Greeks spread all over the world can be self displayed and preserve their national identity, be useful for their Motherland. He has noted that in this context the Armenian and Greek communities of Russia closely cooperate not only in the issues of the solution of the inner vital problems, but also in implementation of all-national goals.

Arkady Khitarov has mentioned that by Mr Savvidi’s support a scientific-educational enterprise will be opened soon in Vanadzor.

The issue of the opportunity of making investments by the Armenian businessmen in Greece and Greek businessmen in Armenia was also discussed. At the guest’s request, Mr Sharmazanov touched upon the Genocide perpetrated by Turkey against Greeks at the beginning of the previous century, saying that the massacre perpetrated against Greeks and Assyrians has been mentioned and condemned in Armenia always together with Armenian Genocide.