Historical and spiritual closeness of the two peoples is the pledge for Armenian-Russian union, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated in Moscow on the Public TV Company of Armenia at a reception in honor of celebration of the 15th anniversary of Armenia's Independence. "We are and we have been allies with Armenia. Historical and spiritual closeness of the two peoples is the pledge for Armenian-Russian union," he said. "Many Armenians now work and live in Russia. Call the name of Armen Jigarkhanyan - there is no Russian, who does not know or love him," the Minister remarked. "Of course we have separated as republics of the USSR, however we are overcoming that hard period," Sergey Lavrov added, reports Novosti-Armenia.