Armenia proposes to Russia to conclude bilateral agreement regarding  Rome Statute - Kirakosyan

ArmInfo. Armenia proposed to its Russian partners to conclude a bilateral agreement in order to  dispel all Moscow's concerns regarding Yerevan's expected ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Armenia's Representative on International Legal Matters Yeghishe Kirakosyan told reporters on September 28.

According to him, the agreement can be concluded in accordance with  Part 2, Art. 98 of the Rome Statute of the ICC. Kirakosyan emphasized  that the conclusion of a bilateral agreement, which will solve the  problem with guarantees, about which the Russian side has concerns.  Currently, Yerevan is awaiting Moscow's reaction to this initiative,  which was sent to the Russian Federation in April of this year.

Armenia's Representative on International Legal Matters found it  difficult to answer the question about the reasons for the stormy  reaction of the Russian Federation to the document submitted for  ratification. "If there are problems, they can be solved," Kirakosyan  said, adding that there are no reservations within the statute; we  are talking about a bilateral agreement between Armenia and Russia,  which can provide for some regulations, including the obligations of  the parties.

On March 17 of this year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for  Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Armenian side notes  that the ratification of the document is not directed against Russia.  Later, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the  Russian side warned their Armenian partners about the extremely  negative consequences in the relations with Russia, in case of  Armenia's possible accession to the Rome Statute. The Foreign  Ministry also added that Moscow considers Yerevan's plans to join the  Rome Statute of the ICC unacceptable against the backdrop of warrants  against the leadership of the Russian Federation. In turn, Deputy  Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hakob Arshakyan noted that Yerevan  can ensure that its further actions related to the ratification of  the Rome Statute do not damage Armenian-Russian strategic relations.