A senior Russian official again warned Yerevan, saying its ongoing tilt toward the West will risk the loss of access to the Russian market, which he said is crucial to Armenia’s economic progress.
Russia’ Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda published late Monday that Western powers were using Armenia as a pawn in their ongoing conflict —war— with Russia, warning of “further erosion of Armenia’s sovereignty and security.”
The Russian official said that Yerevan was pressured by the West to distance itself from Moscow or the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
“Unfounded criticisms of Russia, the CSTO, and the existing security system are being heard more and more often from Yerevan. This is destructive and short-sighted, to put it mildly,” Galuzin said.
“Armenia’s full participation in the CSTO corresponds to the aspirations of the Armenian people and serves the cause of maintaining peace and stability in the South Caucasus,” added Galuzin.
“No matter the promises made by the West, which pushed the Armenian authorities to ‘freeze’ participation in the bloc, there are no effective alternatives to the CSTO as a mechanism for ensuring Armenia’s security today,” the Russian diplomat emphasized, adding that the security bloc is continuing to advance its mission, and “leaving Armenia behind.”
Galuzin also said that at this rate, Western powers will also pressure Yerevan to leave the Eurasian Economic Union, which this year is being chaired by Armenia.
“It’s not hard to guess that the country will be pressed to abandon the mechanisms that have ensured record growth of its [Armenia’s] economy in recent years,” Galuzin said. “Severing of economic ties with Russia will mean a loss of the main [export] market for Armenian business.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last week announced that Armenia will leave the CSTO at a time that his government deems fit. Meanwhile, the United States signed a strategic agreement with Armenia last week, while Yerevan is also advancing its ties with the European Union, even discussing membership in the bloc. France, an EU member, is also providing military equipment and assistance to Armenia, announcing on Tuesday that Armenia will acquire Howitzer anti-missile systems from a French arms manufacturer.
Galuzin lamented that his government has not received a response from Yerevan on various initiatives it has proposed.
He said, Russia expects that “the leadership of Armenia will have enough political wisdom to understand the illusive nature of the West’s promises and the importance of relations with Russia from the point of view of the republic’s sovereignty, security, and economic development.”