Russian MP: Military cooperation with a government that is unable to  stand up for itself never leads to a positive result

ArmInfo. Russian-Armenian military cooperation has existed and will continue, set by the  treaties signed and ratified by the two countries. This was announced  on May 25 during an online press conference by the lawmaker of the  State Duma of Russia, the first deputy chairman of the Committee for  CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots,  Head of the Institute of CIS Countries Konstantin Zatulin.

At the same time, he added that, of course, military cooperation  between Armenia and Russia will continue to develop. "But, I would  like to say one thing that may sound offensive, but again, never  military cooperation with a country whose government is unable or  does not know how to stand up for itself leads to a positive result.  No weapon, even the most modern does not shoot in itself, and no  assistance to the country's defense can be effective if there is no  consensus in the Armenian society itself, if there is a situation  that we observe today in Armenia, "the politician said.

Answering the question about the circulated information about the  possible accession of the Republic of Armenia to Russia, Zatulin  stated that such opinions are periodically voiced by representatives  of various social strata. "Radical points of view are expressed both  from Russia and the Republic of Armenia that Nagorno-Karabakh and  Armenia should hide from danger within the Russian Federation. This  is, of course, connected with the conclusions that people made from  what happened last year. But this issue should be considered  thoroughly, since along with those who want it, there are those who  do not want it, they hope that Armenia's independent path will  continue. We must respect the opinion of the Armenian people and in  order to take such ideas seriously, there must be an internal  consensus in the RA itself, "the politician said, adding that the  alignment of political forces, which will be determined on June 20,  should also be clarified.

Clarifying to what extent in his opinion Armenia's society is  pro-Russian, Zatulin said in particular:  "Survey data say that the  overwhelming majority - there are different numbers, up to 90% -  consider friendship and relations with the Russian Federation the  most important priority of Armenian policy. Russia is viewed as  guarantor of peace and as it happened historically before, that in a  state of danger, Russia is ready to help and support Armenia. "

At the same time, he expressed the hope that Russia will be worthy of  the trust that the citizens of Armenia express with such judgments.  Zatulin also added that in domestic terms, people who express  sympathy for Russia hold different political views, and have  different attitudes towards the authorities and the opposition of  Armenia.

At the same time, according to the Russian lawmaker, despite the fact  that the acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan enjoys the  confidence of a certain part of the population of the Republic of  Armenia, nevertheless, his rating after the last Karabakh war has  been greatly shaken and is constantly declining. The MP added that  today's public support for Pashinyan does not compare with the one  that was expressed to him during the years of the "Velvet  Revolution". Zatulin is convinced that the situation is completely  different now, the prime minister is losing support. "I would not  like to anticipate how it will end n, but it seems to me that the  prime minister's chances to remain in this role are minimal," he  said.

Clarifying, which of the candidates would be beneficial to the West,  Zatulin noted that there is an impression that they are not  interested in the coming to power in Armenia of forces with  consistent pro- Russian views. "It is also obvious that the  leadership of Azerbaijan is also interested in the current prime  minister, with whom it is easy to work, a synonym - to exert  pressure, to lead, would be more preferable," he said, recalling that  Russia at the official level refrains from interfering in the  internal affairs of Armenia.  as such a step may be misinterpreted in  Armenian society.

In his words, the Russian Federation, at least at the official level,  is not going to impose its opinion on Armenia. However, Zatulin  continued, political forces, the Armenian Diaspora, naturally have  their own preferences, and they are not in favor of the current prime  minister.