Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sought to deepen ties with a Caucasus ally on the second day of his first official visit to Armenia Tuesday.

Together with his host Serzh Sargsyan he participated in a ceremonial opening of Russia Square in central Yerevan attended by thousands of city residents before heading for talks with the Armenian leader.

(The square is situated near Yerevan municipality, the Moscow House and the statue of Myasnikyan – the area that saw the March 1-2 post-election riots).

Speaking at the event, Medvedev praised relations between the two states, saying that naming a square in Yerevan after Russia “confirms the absolute sincerity and genuineness of our fraternal feelings and testifies to the openness and depth of the two states’ relations.”

In his remarks, Sargsyan said that for the first time the Russian flag was raised in Armenia in 1827 on top of the fortress that used to stand near that square. It was also the place where prominent 19th century Russian diplomat and writer Alexander Griboyedov’s famous “Woe from Wit” play was for the first time staged. Both presidents called the square a symbol of friendship between the two nations.