Nikol Pashinyan: Armenian-Russian relations will see ‘more positive turns’

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday shared his positive forecasts on the future of the Armenian-Russian relations, expressing hope for a serious progress after the recent political changess in Armenia.

“I believe the relations between Yerevan and Moscow will change only for the better. I am almost confident about that. I also understand that Moscow has certain concerns, which I think will be dispellled after the talks,” he said in an interview with Rossiya 24.

Pashinyan is leaving for Moscow next week to participate in the EEU member countries' summit (set to be held in Sochi on May 14).

Addressing the anti-government protests that led to his election to office, the premier described them as just “domestic political processes” linked to the internal situation in the country.


Pashinyan said he doesn’t treat himself either a pro-Western or a pro-Russian political figure.  “I am pro-Armenian. In my current status as a prime minister, I do not act on behalf of a specific [parliamentary] faction or a party. I now represent the Armeniam people, and the nation-wide movement which has set no foreign policy tasks,” he said, ruling out any changes in the country’s foreign policy agenda.  

Commenting upon the future cooperation with the EEU, the premier said he will focus basically on the already existing agenda. But he hinted also possible plans for changes in the national delegation.

Pashinyan added that he has his own proposal to present at the summit.

As for the partnership within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the premier stressed the importance of clarifying the member states’ mutual obligations.

“We need to have a clear-cut cooperation program [to outline the tactics for] fighting corruption, for instance, or to specify what each of the countries do,” he said, highlighting also the CSTO’s role in Central Asia.

Admitting that that the developing bilateral cooperation (also in the defense sector) is in Armenia’s national and security interests, Pashinyan ruled out any influence of external pressures (potentially threatening to break the strategic alliance).

He also highly appreciated Russia’s assistance in the period of the political crisis and the country’s respect for the sovereignty of Armenia.