"Projects like the Year of Russia in Armenia in 2005 and the coming Year of Armenia in Russia make peoples closer. Armenian people is that with a high culture, Armenian scholars and art figures are well-known not only in Russia, but also throughout the globe. I am sure that all measures planned within the Year of Armenia in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities will cause high interest in the society," Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov told journalists January 21, on the eve of the opening of the Year of Armenia in Russia. "Armenia is among those states, with which Russia has steadfast partnership relations. The prospective cooperation includes energy, law-enforcement, military and defense spheres, science and culture." Stability and security in development of the Caucasian region as a whole depends on effectiveness of Russian-Armenian relations much, the MP emphasized. "Interparliamentary dialogue is of special importance and it is at a high level today. In November 2005 we ratified intergovernmental agreement of encouraging and mutual protection of capital investments," Gryzlov said, reported IA Regnum.