In the current environment, Moscow is ready to reconsider its relations with Armenia in a constructive manner. This was stated by Sergey Kopyrkin, Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, during a reception in Yerevan marking Russia Day, Sputnik Armenia reported.
The ambassador said Russia’s history is rich in heroic chapters, major victories and achievements. According to him, over the centuries the Russian people have developed a distinct sense of identity based on devotion and love for the homeland, respect for history, national traditions, spiritual and religious values, as well as the ideals of mercy and justice.
He stressed that Russia has once again entered a period of serious challenges, but no one has ever managed to break the country’s will or force it to abandon its independence.
“It will not succeed now either. Those who cannot accept our country’s sovereign and self-sufficient position will not be helped by political intrigues, sanctions, despicable terrorist attacks or information sabotage. As has happened many times throughout our history, we will endure and emerge even stronger,” Kopyrkin said.
According to the ambassador, despite geopolitical upheavals, Russia has remained an important and responsible participant in global affairs. He said the country has actively contributed to the formation of a fairer and multipolar world order based on the equality of states, adherence to international law and respect for the values of different civilizations.
The ambassador noted that Moscow believes global stability can only be ensured through mutual respect, consideration of all parties’ interests, and the rejection of dictates and the imposition of external ideologies.
“These ideas are being promoted within new types of associations such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Attempts by certain states to preserve a geopolitical hegemony that is irreversibly fading, and to prolong prosperity through exploitation and plunder of other countries and peoples, are leading to growing global instability. The Middle East is engulfed in conflict, while tensions are increasing in Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere,” he said.
According to Kopyrkin, Russia has been advancing, together with interested partners, the initiative to develop a Eurasian Charter reflecting the diversity and multipolarity of the 21st century. He also stressed that geopolitical developments have had a direct impact on the South Caucasus, and that Russia is determined to contribute to stability, economic progress and the development of transport links in the region.
He expressed confidence that the interests of Russia and Armenia fully coincide in these matters.
According to the ambassador, Russian-Armenian interstate cooperation is currently based on political dialogue at high and top levels, intergovernmental, interparliamentary and interagency formats, interregional ties and a solid contractual framework.
“At the same time, it is obvious that our relations have entered a stage of rethinking and adapting to changing global and regional realities. Moscow is fully prepared to work together in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner on the basis of the existing bilateral mechanisms,” the diplomat said.
He added that Russia has never questioned and does not question Armenia’s right to pursue an independent foreign policy. At the same time, Moscow expects that Yerevan’s cooperation with other partners will not harm Armenian-Russian relations and will not be directed against Russia.
Kopyrkin described the multifaceted ties between the two peoples, personal contacts, shared victories and major achievements as an invaluable legacy. He particularly highlighted the victory over Nazism during the Great Patriotic War and noted that a large Armenian community lives in Russia. According to the ambassador, respect for history and the preservation of spiritual, religious and family values are among the key factors uniting the two nations.
He also announced that, in order to expand humanitarian cooperation, Days of Armenian Spiritual Culture will be held in Moscow before the end of the year, while Days of Russian Spiritual Culture will be organized in Armenia.
The ambassador said Russia remains one of Armenia’s leading foreign trade partners, including in terms of remittances and tourist flows. Companies operating with Russian capital continue to rank among the country’s largest taxpayers and play a significant role in Armenia’s socio-economic development.
“These results are largely achieved through our joint efforts to unlock Eurasian economic potential. We are ready to continue working with our Armenian partners in this direction,” Kopyrkin stated.
Russia has not yet congratulated the Civil Contract party or Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who leads the party, on their victory in the June 7 elections. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is waiting for the final election results.
