Russia does not dictate whom to cooperate with: Lavrov on Armenia’s relations with EU and US

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated at a press conference that the peoples of Armenia and Russia are friendly nations. According to Lavrov, the current nature of official relations between Armenia and Russia is unclear. The diplomat cited the comment of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk, stating that membership in the EU and the EAEU is incompatible, as they are two different free trade zones.

“Undoubtedly, it is the legitimate decision of the Armenian leadership to begin joining any international organization. It is a sovereign decision. However, weighing all the pros and cons is also the responsibility of the Armenian leadership and those engaged in the economic bloc. Armenia has frozen its participation in the CSTO; it simply does not participate in the organization’s events. However, in all fairness, they have noted that they are not blocking the organization’s decisions. Therefore, the activities of the organization continue,” the diplomat said.

He noted that in 2022, it was agreed to send a CSTO mission to Armenia, but the country’s leadership refused at the last moment. Lavrov added that there has not been a clearly delineated and demarcated border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “However, refusing the CSTO mission, which I believe would have been effective, was also a sovereign decision. At the same time, an EU mission was invited there,” Lavrov stated, adding that the EU mission addresses issues that are of Armenia’s interests as much as of its own. The Russian foreign minister added that Armenia’s decision to sign a strategic partnership agreement with the U.S. is a sovereign one, and Russia does not dictate whom to cooperate with. According to him, what matters is not what it is called, but what it suggests. Lavrov also announced that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has been invited to Russia, and he has accepted the invitation.