Joining NATO not Armenia`s agenda now 

ArmInfo.The problems in Armenian-Russian relations are obvious, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Buenos Aires stated in an interview with TN.

So, when asked whether it can be said that Armenia is turning to the  West, Mirzoyan assured that RA is a democratic country and wants to  strengthen democratic institutions. "We see that, for example, the  USA and the European Union (EU) are the main partners. We also saw  that the EU is ready to send a civilian mission, and the situation on  the border has improved significantly, their presence greatly  contributes to peace in the region, and in Armenia. in particular,"  Mirzoyan noted.

According to the minister, Russia sent peace guarantors to monitor  security in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, but there were many attacks on  the Armenian border.

So, when asked whether it can be said that Armenia is turning to the  West, Mirzoyan assured that RA is a democratic country and wants to  strengthen democratic institutions. "We see that, for example, the  USA and the European Union (EU) are the main partners. We also saw  that the EU is ready to send a civilian mission, and the situation on  the border has improved significantly, their presence greatly  contributes to peace in the region, and in Armenia. in particular,"  Mirzoyan noted.

According to the minister, Russia sent peace guarantors to monitor  security in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, but there were many attacks on  the Armenian border.

At the same time, he called the allies' response to these acts of  aggression unsatisfactory and inadequate.  "The security mechanisms  that we had for several decades did not work. Therefore, we had to  ask the European Union to come and observe the situation. Now we are  deepening economic and political relations with Brussels and  Washington. I would not call this a turnaround, we are trying to  ensure our security, develop democratic institutions, and for this we  see that there are good partners in the West," added the head of the  Armenian Foreign Ministry.

When asked to assess the current relations between Armenia and  Russia, the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry recalled  cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, security, etc. "But we  must admit that we do not speak the same language. The problems that  exist in relations with Russia cannot be hidden," Mirzoyan said. 

When asked to clarify whether there was a possibility of severing  diplomatic relations with Russia, the head of the RA Foreign Ministry  assured that he could not speak in advance. At the same time, he  added that Armenia expects Russia to fulfill its written obligations  under existing agreements regarding its territorial integrity.

And in response to the question whether Armenia plans to move closer  to NATO, Mirzoyan recalled that Yerevan already has cooperation with  the North Atlantic Alliance.

"We are participating in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan,  increasing our presence in Kosovo, this is a form of cooperation. If  we are talking about the intention to join NATO, then no. Today this  issue is not on Armenia's agenda," he said.

At the same time, he admitted that Armenia has European aspirations.  "In the case of the EU, I can say that Armenians really have European  aspirations. And I would like to quote what the Prime Minister of  Armenia recently said during a speech in the European Parliament:  "Armenia is ready to become closer to the EU as much as the EU  considers possible " the Armenian FM said.