The phone call was on the occasion of my colleague's birthday, I have the best and most respectful relations with the head of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, told this to reporters at the NA Tuesday, referring to his phone conversation on April 7 with Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly.

"We always speak openly, directly, in the logic of mutual respect. The main conversation was personal, on the occasion of [Matvienko’s] birthday. In a few days I am leaving for Istanbul, she will also be there, I assume we will communicate there. It is not about an official meeting," Simonyan added.

The Armenian parliament speaker informed that a meeting with his colleagues from Azerbaijan and Georgia is planned within the framework of an upcoming forum in Istanbul.

On April 7, Alen Simonyan had a phone conversation with Valentina Matvienko. The NA had reported that interparliamentary relations and the bilateral agenda were discussed. Also, Simonyan had congratulated her Russian counterpart on her birthday.