Experts: Armenia, Russia mutually indispensable as regional allies

PanARMENIAN.Net - Relations with Moscow are very important for Armenia, with the latter’s foreign policy being mostly determined by its geopolitical situation, experts believe.

“Whichever candidate became elected president at the February 18 polls, he would have to consider ties with Russia,” CIS States Institute director Konstantin Zatulin stated at a Yerevan-Moscow TV spacebridge.

Political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan agreed with Zatulin, noting that Russia and Armenia are indispensable to each other as regional allies. “Every Armenian president will be sure to pursue a policy of partnership with Russia,” the expert said.

Zatulin, in turn, stressed that Armenia might benefit from Russia’s having positive ties with Azerbaijan, as a guarantee of restraint in current situation.

Commenting on Armenia’s domestic policy, Zatulin noted that Russia supports a rapid solution to the situation following the presidential polls. “Raffi Hovannisian wouldn’t have received so many votes, had the voters been given a different choice of presidential candidates. It’s now up to Serzh Sargzyan to control the development of events,” the expert said.

“Regardless of elections results, Armenia’s future prospects seem clear: in the next 5 years, the country will seek to develop ties with Russia, Europe and Iran,” Iskandaryan said.