Close collaboration with Russian Federation a key component of Armenia’s security, president

YEREVAN, March 18. / ARKA /. Addressing an international media forum in the Armenian capital entitled 'At the Foot of Mount Ararat,’ dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, President Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia’s foreign policy has always been based on the principle of complementarity of different systems and accommodation of the interests of great powers involved in the region. 

He said joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) , the Republic of Armenia has simultaneously enhanced its cooperation with NATO, by contributing to the strengthening of international peace and security through its participation in the peace-keeping missions. Our country has developed and continues to develop allied strategic partnership with Russia. 

‘The Armenian-Russian allied inter-State relations are anchored in the close historical ties that existed between the two nations. The close collaboration with the Russian Federation (RF) is a key component of our security, economic development and stability. The RF is Armenia’s largest trade partner: in 2014, our trade accounted for more than 1.4 billion dollars, there are 1.3 thousand enterprises with Russian capital in Armenia and the amount of Russian investments in our economy have exceeded three billion dollars. 

I am confident that for very many persons sitting in the hall these numbers seem small and ridiculous, but believe me that for a small state and a small economy such as Armenia these numbers are extremely important. We cooperate with Russia in different sectors – energy, infrastructure, industry etc. According to non-official data, there are around 2 million Armenians living in the RF. We also continue to deepen our collaboration with the RF within the framework of international organizations – the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS and CSTO. We attach great importance to the Russia’s efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Our foreign policy is also aimed at reinforcement of our friendly partnership with the US and of the special relationship with France.

Since independence, Armenian-American relations have continued to develop dynamically. Currently our bilateral agenda includes various sectors – political, economic, human, security and other dimensions – in which we have been making further progress year to year.

I must express my content with the fact that owing to mutual efforts our partnership has now reached its highest level in the history of Armenian-American relations. The reciprocal visits at various levels conducted in the recent years bear testimony to this.

We highly appreciate long-standing US support for the RA’s economic development, multi-sectoral reforms, consolidation of democracy and civil society, which pursue the objective to strengthen our statehood.

We also place great value on the US role in the maintenance of security and stability in the region, especially on its active involvement in the peaceful settlement of the NK problem.

Armenia is very keen on continuing interstate relations based on shared values and the age-old friendship between the Armenian and French peoples. We value the achievements embellishing our interstate relations during the last two decades, which involve regular promotion of political, economic, cultural, scientific and educational cooperation, and effective implementation of the assistance programs.

The consistent and concerted efforts in the relations between Armenia and France have resulted in a crucial haven, special relations we enjoy. France’s role is invaluable both in the condemnation and international recognition of the Armenian Genocide at the highest level, and in the peaceful resolution of the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

Of course, deepening and broadening of our traditionally friendly partnerships with neighboring countries, particularly, with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia are top priorities for our country.

We highly appreciate our mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation with Iran, which is rooted in historical and cultural similarities, reciprocal economic interests and in common approaches to a number of regional issues.

The multifaceted relationship between Armenia and Iran is maintained at the high level. This is testified by our active and high-level political contacts, and agreements reached therein pertaining to the effective implementation of joint political, economic and humanitarian projects.

We are closely following the negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1 over Iran’s nuclear program. We wish the issue to be resolved as soon as possible, and the settlement to be acceptable to all the parties. We are hopeful that the agreements that have already been achieved will result in a comprehensive settlement of this issue.

I must express my content with the fact that in recent years the high-level contacts between Armenia and Georgia have tangibly intensified. Our active interstate dialogue rooted in the traditional, historical and good-neighborly friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples establishes serious prerequisites to outline new dimensions in our partnership. As a result, we are building effective mechanisms to swiftly address any issue on our current bilateral agenda.

We have always attached great importance to Georgia’s role not only in the development of our bilateral relations, but also in strengthening and maintaining security in the South Caucasus.

The level of our political cooperation has provided favorable conditions for promotion of bilateral economic cooperation. In this regard, we have made considerable progress in the development of a relevant legal framework.

From January of 2015 onwards we have been a full-fledged member of the Eurasian Economic Union. Since independence active involvement in regional integration processes has been and continues to be a priority for the Armenian foreign policy. In the 21st century regional integration unions play a major role in helping small states follow ongoing trends in the global economy and fully integrate into it. In this regard taking into account the present structure of our country’s economy, the geography of export and our economic ties with EEU member states, the accession to the EEU opens up new prospects for our country to develop. Free movement of goods, capital, services and labor give our businessmen substantial opportunities to penetrate new markets and reinforce their positions there. All this will naturally stimulate employment opportunities in Armenia, increase of foreign direct investments and development of our economy.

Being a full-fledged member of the European family and civilization and building our development on the European principles and values, we continue to make vigorous efforts to enhance our relations both with individual European countries, and with the EU and our Western partners. The cooperation between Armenia and EU has been marked by major achievements, which is a result of our concerted efforts, political will and mutual commitment. Throughout these years, the large-scale reforms in Armenia have been at the forefront of our dialogue. To raise the effectiveness of those reforms, we have transformed the executive structure, establishing the Ministry of International Economic Integration and Reforms, which will coordinate those processes.

We intend to maintain these achievements and, moreover, to deepen and buttress them with further initiatives. This is proved by the Armenia-EU Joint Statement adopted in Vilnius in November of 2013, in which the parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further enhancing and strengthening multi-sectoral cooperation. We are taking active steps both towards development of a new legal framework for our relations with the EU and pushing forward our agenda with NATO.

Meanwhile, I have to note that under conditions of the boisterous pace at which globalization has proceeded in the 21st century, when the world is moving towards formation of a single common area, when it seems that the economic borders between the states are losing their importance, it is meaningless to speak about conflicting integration models. In this respect, as I have said on numerous occasions before by joining the EEU, Armenia could serve as a connecting link between the business communities of EEU states and Western countries.

Our country’s foreign policy agenda has been expanding with every passing day through embracing new partners. Our relations with the countries of the Latin American and Asian countries have intensified, and we continue to maintain traditionally good relations with the Arab world. Among the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, we have kept on promoting close cooperation with China, Japan and with a host of other states. In a few days, I am going to pay a State Visit to China, which I am sure will give a new impetus to the development of our bilateral relations in various fields.

Of course, our foreign policy and security cannot remain unaffected by events unfolding in neighboring regions and, in general, in the international arena. By this I refer to the alarming developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. Today, the so called Islamic State based in the territories of Syria and Iraq poses a real threat to both regional and international security. In the Middle East, the cradle of ancient civilizations, those very civilizations risk being destroyed. Armenian communities in Syria and Iraq are also affected by that situation. The Armenian Genocide survivors, who had found shelter in Syria and Iraq, now have to face the mentioned challenges. Armenia has already accepted more than ten thousand refugees from Syria.

Armenia condemns the crimes and atrocities committed by the Islamic State, the Al Nusra Front and by other terrorist groups, and calls on the international community to take decisive steps against this newly-emerged calamity. In this context, Armenia expresses its full support to the complete implementation of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.’-0-