No security alternatives for Armenia except for CSTO and Russia - Mikael Aghasandyan

ArmInfo. There are no alternatives to the CSTO and Russia as guarantors of Armenia's stability, says Director of the First Department of the CIS Countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikael Aghasandyan.

Speaking about Armenia's participation in the general work of the CSTO, the diplomat stated that the line of moving away from such interaction has now prevailed in Yerevan.

"This position, as we see it, contradicts the interests of the people of Armenia and significantly weakens national security. Ultimately, there are no alternatives to the CSTO and Russia as guarantors of the republic's stability. At this stage, the doors are open for Armenia to return to full cooperation in the CSTO, and mutual obligations within the organization remain unchanged. We hope that our Armenian partners, having overcome their doubts, will once again demonstrate their commitment to interested joint work - in the strategic interests of the friendly Armenian people," Aghasandyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

At the same time, when asked how the current Armenian authorities' desire for closer cooperation with the European Union and NATO could affect Yerevan's relations with the EAEU, the diplomat expressed his conviction that relations between Moscow and Yerevan within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union are based on mutually beneficial cooperation. 

"You don't need to be an expert in economics or politics to see the obvious: the union is beneficial to Yerevan, and it is largely thanks to it that the pace of economic growth in Armenia demonstrates impressive positive dynamics, which few can boast of. Thus, in the first three months of 2024, the country's GDP grew by more than 9%, which is the highest figure among the EAEU member states. From 2015 to 2023, Armenia increased its exports to the Union market by 14 times - from 0.25 to 3.6 billion US dollars. 

The volume of cross-border money transfers to Armenia from other EAEU member states increased by 3.8 times in 2015-2023 (from 1.05 to 4.0 billion US dollars). Naturally, all this allows us to collect more taxes, create jobs, and improve the quality of life of the population. All conditions for labor activity have been created within the framework of the union," he added.

"As for the course taken by Yerevan towards closer cooperation with the European Union and NATO, here our partners have obviously fallen for the Westerners' hook, promising them investments, technologies and a bright future. They have repeatedly used this approach in the post-Soviet space. And what came of it, we all know and see very well," the diplomat continued. Aghasandyan expressed confidence that extra-regional forces are not able to objectively resolve issues of regions within whose borders they do not directly exist, and their main goal is to drive a wedge into cooperation with Russia. "The Eurasian Economic Union is facts, reality, current advantages and achievements. We hope that pragmatism and common sense will not allow us to abandon this for the sake of uncertainty in the long term. In the end, compare the objective indicators of Armenia's trade turnover with the EAEU countries and with extra-regional players, and, like any unbiased observer, everything should become clear to you," the Russian official concluded.