Russian diplomat: We cannot help but notice decrease in level of  Armenia`s representation at CIS events

ArmInfo.Building up constructive, fruitful cooperation with like- minded people, partners and friends in the post-Soviet space is an absolute priority of Russian foreign policy. Minister-Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Armenia, Maxim Seleznev stated on June 12 in Yerevan at the international round table: "Foreign Policy Priorities of Russia and Armenia in the Post- Soviet Space: CIS, EAEU and CSTO", organized by  the Analytical Center for Strategic Studies and Initiatives (ACSSI).

He added that within the framework of existing integration projects,  Russia is promoting a creative and forward-looking policy. The  diplomat noted that Russia values relations with its partners and  assumes that they are sovereign states that independently decide  their foreign policy, putting the interests of their own people  first, while respecting the interests of other peoples and states.   Touching upon cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union, the  diplomat noted that economic indicators within the EAEU indicate that  the vector chosen 10 years ago was correct: the EAEU GDP reached from  1.6 trillion dollars to 2.4 trillion dollars in 2015 to 2023. "One of  the main beneficiaries of these changes is Armenia," Seleznev noted,  adding that cooperation within the EAEU is beneficial to all its  participants.

Speaking about cooperation within the CIS, the Russian diplomat noted  that the situation here is not so rosy. "I cannot speak about the  same positive aspects of interaction within the Commonwealth as in  the case of the EAEU. We cannot help but notice the decrease in the  level of representation or the absence of Armenian representatives at  events within the CIS. In 2023, for the first time, the Prime  Minister of Armenia did not attend the autumn meeting of the CIS  heads of state," he noted.

Seleznev also reported that the agreement on the establishment of  international organizations for the Russian language, which was part  of the package of decisions adopted at the summit, has not yet been  signed by the Armenian side.

"Regarding the CSTO, I would like to say that despite the criticism  coming from Yerevan against the Organization, I would like to note  that Russia is convinced that Armenia's full participation in the  CSTO meets, first of all, the interests of the Armenian people and  serves as a factor in maintaining peace and stability in the region,"  Seleznev noted.

The diplomat also drew attention to the fact that Armenia's  membership in the CSTO and ties with Russia in the military and  military-technical fields have become key factors in the progressive  development of independent Armenia in recent decades. "Many of the  risks that Armenia faces today could have been minimized if in 2022  Yerevan had agreed to the proposal to implement a set of measures to  stabilize the situation on the border with Azerbaijan through the  CSTO. The measures include military-technical assistance, and sending  a monitoring mission, and assistance to the Armenian border troops.  Unfortunately, the choice fell on the EU civilian mission, which does  not protect the state's borders, but is engaged in collecting  intelligence about Russia and Iran," Seleznev added. "We are  genuinely interested in our neighbors in the South Caucasus  establishing a strong and long-term peace. At the same time, the  goals of the West, where the Armenian leadership is now actively  searching for security partners, are fundamentally contradictory. One  of the West's tasks is to undermine integration processes in Eurasia;  our integration processes are a bone in its throat. In order to  achieve their goals, the United States and its allies are ready to  take any steps, including destabilizing the domestic political and  socio-economic situation at our borders.  The West's main interests  lie in the odious thesis of Russia's strategic defeat, but this will  not happen," the representative of the Russian embassy summarized.