Kocharyan: Any direct or indirect signs of Armenia`s revision of  traditional geopolitical priorities during this turbulent time pose a  threat

ArmInfo. Armenian-Russian  relations need special care today, any direct or indirect signs of  Armenia's revision of traditional geopolitical priorities in this  hectic time, even without being implemented, are a threat. Speaking  at the constituent meeting of the ''Lazarev Club'' in Yerevan, the  second President of Armenia Robert Kocharian stated this.

According  to him, at present, information technologies and social networks  create the possibility of manipulating public sentiment, giving rise  to elements of doubts about each other in the societies of the two  countries, which can lead to corrosion of bilateral ties. "We must  make great efforts to preserve and develop bilateral relations. 

Friendship of countries is not only a coincidence of state interests,  it is a synthesis of state interests with deep penetration of the  human factor. Any friendship requires effort. True, it has inertia,  but cannot develop by inertia Friendship ceases when a shadow of  doubt appears, when one of the parties demands more than it can give,  when it constantly informs and asks. It eventually bothers, it leads  to the establishment of a vassal Armenian-Russian relations should be  understandable, predictable. There is no second example of such  relations as friendship between Armenia and Russia. And we must  preserve them, "the second president said.

He also expressed the hope that the ''Lazarev Club'' would become an  efficient platform for generating new ideas in the name of developing  Armenian-Russian friendship. Kocharyan thanked the First Deputy  Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations  with Compatriots Konstantin Zatulin for the initiative and  contribution to the creation of the club. "I don't deny that months  earlier, discussing this initiative with him, I expressed my  readiness to assist in its implementation in every way," Kocharyan  assured.

To note, the ruling elite of Kocharyan times was present at the  meeting. The first and third presidents of Armenia did not take part  in the event. It was not possible to get comments regarding their  absence from the offices of the former heads.  The event was not  attended as well. RA  Acting Premier Nikol Pashinyan, although he was  officially invited. Pashinyan's press secretary Arman Yeghoyan didn't  consider it expedient to comment on the reason for the absence of the  acting president in an interview with ArmInfo. But the invitation was  accepted by the current President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian.