Lavrov says difficulties in Russia-Armenia relations are temporary
YEREVAN, December 28. /ARKA/. The difficulties in relations between Russia and Armenia are temporary and will be resolved if political will is displayed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview for Tass.
According to the minister, "sustainable and gradual development of Russian-Armenian ties meets core interests of the people of the two states, which share common values and a single cultural code."
"The trade and economic ties and the dialogue between Moscow and Yerevan develop at an impressive rate. This is a foundation for relations between the two countries, and the most important support for development of Armenian economy and the welfare of Armenian people," Lavrov said.
He underscored that the rapid growth of Armenia’s GDP in the recent years "is largely caused by the cooperation with Russia and by Yeveran’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union [EEU]."
"Next year, Armenia will chair the EAEU. We wish our colleagues success," the foreign minister said.
The Russian military base is located in Armenia in accordance with a bilateral agreement, so it is harmful to speculate about the expediency of its presence, Lavrov said.
"We regard as harmful any speculations on the expediency of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia. The treaty on its deployment there was concluded on March 16, 1995. It is based, first of all, on the national interests and the common task of our states to strengthen stability in the Southern Caucasus," Lavrov pointed out.
He described the Russian military personnel as "the key factor for ensuring peace in this region.".
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, parliament Chairman Alen Simonyan as well as PM Pashinyan have been refusing to attend the meetings of the Russia-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
PM Pashinyan said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Azerbaijan's aggressive actions and inaction of the CSTO forced Armenia to seek to diversify its relations in the security area.
Earlier this year Armenia declined to host CSTO military exercises, saying it expected the Russia-led military pact to make a clear-cut assessment of Azerbaijan’s continued occupation of chunks of Armenia’s sovereign territories.
In another rift between Armenia and CSTO Yerevan chose not to fill its quota for the CSTO Deputy Secretary General. Armenia also recalled its ambassador from the military alliance and has not appointed a replacement yet. -0-
