Relations between Russia and Armenia at the official level are not simple, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during his annual press conference, while commenting on Armenia's pro-Western policy, as well as, its upcoming signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the U.S. APA's Moscow correspondent reports.
Lavrov also recalled a statement by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk regarding Armenia's starting pf negotiations on joining the European Union.
Note that, Overchuk had previously stated that he considered Armenia’s starting of discussions on EU membership as the beginning of Armenia's departure from the Eurasian Economic Union.
Lavrov called the start of the discussion on membership in the European Union a sovereign decision of the legitimate leadership of Armenia.
The Russian foreign minister also discussed Armenia's withdrawal of its participation in the CSTO. He explained that Armenia had not frozen its participation in the CSTO but simply stopped attending the organization's events.
Lavrov linked this step by official Yerevan to the armed clashes on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border in September 2022. He noted that Armenia had claimed that the CSTO did not come to its aid as an ally at that time.
The Russian foreign minister pointed out that the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia have not been delimited or demarcated, meaning there is no known military intervention by Azerbaijan in Armenian territory.
Lavrov also recalled Armenia's refusal of the CSTO mission. He noted that Armenia invited the European Union mission. He added, "According to our information, these observers are not concerned with Armenia's interests, but their own."
Lavrov added that dialogue with Armenia continues. He noted that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has been invited to Moscow, and he has accepted the invitation. "We are looking forward to his visit," Lavrov concluded.
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