Ruling power lawmaker: There are issues where Armenia still has questions for Russia

Relations between Armenia and Russia are transparent and multidisciplinary and multifaceted. Sargis Khandanyan, an MP of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction and Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, told this to reporters at the NA Wednesday—and regarding the remark that Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan's last press conference showed a softening of his attitude towards Russia.
"Of course, there are many issues in Armenian-Russian relations, and we have raised these issues many times. But I also don't think that the rhetoric has somehow changed. Yes, there are issues on which we have expressed strong positions, and there are issues on which there is understanding, partnership relations. I don't think that world-shattering things have happened here, as a result of which the tone or rhetoric has changed, especially with the prime minister, who always has quite a partnership relationship. Yes, there are issues where Armenia still has questions for Russia and there have been, there are, and maybe there will be sharp comments from our side," said Khandanyan.
According to him, the main issue on which Armenia has questions is that Russia has not fulfilled and is not fulfilling its obligations in security and defense relations with Armenia, including within the framework of the CSTO.
Referring to Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Khandanyan said: "In Russia, yes, there are officials who continuously violate not only the rules of diplomatic ethics, but the ethics of life in general. A number of wording and comments in recent times to Armenia were very disrespectful and they are receiving a response."
And with regard to point 9 of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement and the recent statement by the Russian foreign ministry that Armenia is sabotaging, Khandanyan said: "When the parties talk about the November 9 document, they should consider it in its entirety and grasp who did what and what and didn't do. There is not a point in that document that Armenia has not implemented."

• Russia
• Armenia
• Civil Contract Faction
• National Assembly
• Press Conference
• Nikol Pashinyan
• Foreign Relations
• Multifaceted
• Transparent
• Multidisciplinary
• Sargis Khandanyan
• Standing Committee On Foreign Relations