No signals from Armenia on revising status of Russian base in Gyumri received, Russian Foreign Ministry says
No signals from Armenia regarding a revision of the status of the Russian military base in Gyumri “have been received so far,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with RTVI.
“You know, no such signals have been received from the Armenian side so far. Moreover, the Armenian side has officially stated that Yerevan is not considering the issue of winding down the Russian military base in Gyumri,” the deputy minister said, responding to a question about the possibility of revising the terms of the agreement on the base in Gyumri.
At the same time, Galuzin noted that certain forces and pro-Western nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Armenia are trying to discredit Russia’s military presence in the country, “but all these attempts are futile.”
“We see that, unfortunately, certain political forces and certain pro-Western Armenian NGOs are trying to denigrate the Russian military presence in Armenia, presenting it almost as some kind of occupation tool or as evidence of some kind of closedness or unfriendliness toward Armenia,” he said.
“But all these attempts are futile,” the deputy foreign minister pointed out. “They are shattered by the friendly attitude of the local population toward the Russian military base, since it is not only a military facility but also a kind of attraction point for local residents. This is evidenced by the large number of participants in visits to our base on open days, the most recent of which was on June 12.”
According to Galuzin, the Russian side is fulfilling its obligations under the base agreement and expects the same from Armenia.
“In this case, this is a matter for discussion on the Armenian side — what the Armenian side, as they say, can and cannot do if it joins the European Union. We proceed from the fact that there is an agreement that is in force, that is being implemented, and we are committed to fulfilling our obligations under it. We expect the same from the Armenian side,” he said, responding to a question about how the situation with the base in Gyumri might be resolved if Armenia joins the European Union.
Responding to a question about whether Russian border guards could be asked to leave the Armenian-Iranian border zone in connection with Armenia now building communications with the United States in the region, the deputy minister recalled that Moscow and Yerevan have an agreement dating back to 1992. “I proceed from the fact that we have an agreement with Armenia from 1992 on the conditions for the activities of our border guards in the border sections you mentioned; I proceed from the fact that it will be implemented,” Galuzin added.
Source: TASS
