Armenian-Russian cooperation to keep developing irrespective of political Leadership change
YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Armenian-Russian relations will continue to develop irrespective of the change of the political leadership, RA Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatian reported the “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”.
“I am sure that irrespective of the fact who is Armenia’s President, Armenian-Russian cooperation will keep developing, as the matter is friendship between both nations, multilayer intergovernmental relations, common national interests, which we introduce to various international organizations and, if necessary, help each other in these spheres,” Smbatian said.
According to him, RA President Robert Kocharian has a great investment in the development of Armenian-Russian relations. Armenian-Russian relations are on a good political basis, and it is necessary to maintain its continuity, the Ambassador said.
Smbatian pointed out that both countries should pay more attention to economic relations, as cultural, scientific and other relations may be in danger without sustainable economic relations.
As regard the statements of certain opposition leaders that Armenia and Russia are in vassal relations, Smbatian believes one should treat such criticism indulgently. “These are statements are opposition leaders’ opinions which do not correspond to the reality. I state this as ambassador who knows perfectly well what Armenia is and what interests it may have in Russia and vice versa,” he said.
The Ambassador sees no problems in the sphere of Russian-Armenian cooperation. If there are ones, the parties try to solve them together on the level of foreign ministers, ambassadors and businessmen.
“For instance, the Armenian party took the increase of gas prices as an unconstructive step. I have made repeated explanations on the issue, believing Russia made such a decision basing on its own pragmatic and economic interests. The problem was solved and a mutually beneficial document was signed in the gas sphere,” Smbatian said. –0--
