Tuesday, October 24 2023 16:42

ArmInfo.Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from the ruling "Civil Contract" faction Gurgen Arsenyan denied the yesterday's media reports that Russia refused to give an agrement for his appointment as Armenian Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

The deputy confirmed that the note for the issuance of the agreman  was sent to the Russian side. Arsenyan clarified that his documents  are currently in Russia. "If the Russian side gives its consent, the  corresponding decree will be signed by the relevant official of  Armenia. You are asking a strange question:  if you have submitted  documents to a university, passed exams, will you study there or  not?," the MP noted. In response to a clarifying question about  whether a corresponding offer had been made to him, Arsenyan became  indignant: "How can there not be an offer if my documents are now in  Moscow." At the same time, he denied rumors that Russia had rejected  his candidacy.

Answering a question about the possibility of stopping broadcasting  of a number of Russian TV channels in Armenia, Arsenyan emphasized  that he stands for freedom of speech. Moreover, the process of  stopping the broadcast itself can take forever. The goals that  Russian TV channels should serve are completely different.  The MP  noted that Armenia sets itself the task of actively developing  relations not only with its neighbors but also with the European  Union, the Russian Federation, moving from the old closed regime to  an open one, which involves active mutually beneficial cooperation  with all states of the region, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, as  well as with other countries.

Arsenyan noted that Yerevan understands Moscow's position in the  context of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He pointed  out that Russia has its own geopolitical interests in the region; a  number of agreements are in force between Armenia and the Russian  Federation, including, regarding the Russian base in the Republic of  Armenia, the presence of a joint air defense system and others.  According to the MP, against this background, Russia considers a  possible peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a document  that, in a certain sense, should also touch upon issues of further  Russian presence in Armenia. He considers this quite natural and  Armenia does not dispute this position of Russia. "In the end, let's  not forget that Azerbaijan's position and the theses it promotes also  reflect Turkey's desires.  Ankara does not directly participate in  the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations, but Turkey's point of view is  recorded in the text of the agreement that Azerbaijan proposes,"  politician noted, adding that he does not know whether Moscow is  doing the same.