Armenian PM shrugs off Moscow's accusations of Yerevan's reorientation towards West

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shrugged off Russia's accusations that Yerevan is trying to reorient itself to the West.

"We are not changing any vector. Our relations with the EU are developing according to the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that was signed and ratified before 2018 (when Pashinyan came to power) , when no such terminology was used by Russia... We have not canceled anything in relations with Russia, we have not withdrawn from any agreement," Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told in a Thursday night interview with Armenia's Public Television.

He added that Armenia has never hidden the existing problems, including with the Russia-led CSTO, which emerged after Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of about 150 square kilometers of Armenian territory in 2021.

Pashinyan said also that Armenia is ready to work with neighboring countries in the regional 3+3 format. He emphasized the importance of discussing regional issues precisely within the region. According to him, there was earlier talk of holding the next meeting in Tehran, for which Armenia is ready.

"Of course, it is necessary to specify the perceptions of the parties, the level and formats of discussion and other issues," Pashinyan said.

The 3+3 negotiation format (Russia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia) was initiated by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey. However, Georgia stated its refusal to participate in this initiative. The first and only meeting of the platform was held in December 2022. --0--