NGOs, mass media “fed” by West are trying to destroy age-long Russian-Armenian relations: Russian embassy

Despite a number of problematic issues the age-long Russian-Armenian relations continue developing consistently and one illustration of this is the outcome of the visit of the Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu to Armenia on October 29, says the press-service of the embassy of the Russian Federation to Armenia.

“During the negotiations with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and defense minister Davit Tonoyan an arrangement has been reached about enhancement of the bilateral military-technical cooperation. Meanwhile, the Armenian side expressed gratitude to Russia for the preferential terms and financial assistance in the purchase of newest samples of weapon and military technology as well as for the assistance in conduction of humanitarian mission by Armenia in Syria,” the embassy said in the comment.

It also added that during the visit up-to-date issues relating to the activity of the 102d Russian military base deployed in Armenia were discussed. This military unit was created on the basis of the contract on the legal status of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation situated in the territory of Armenia (from August 21, 1992) and contract on Russian military base on the territory of the Republic of Armenia (from March 16, 1995).

“According to the mentioned contracts, the leadership of the two countries admit the necessity of agreed military-political actions for ensuring the security of the Caucasian region and adequate response to an armed aggression as well as other challenges,” the embassy said.

“It is also worthy to note that the necessity to deploy 102d Russian military base in Armenia has always been stressed by the state itself, including by the incumbent government of Armenia,” the comment said, adding that during the recent negotiations Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed again that he views the deployment of Russian military contingent and border guards in the territory of Armenia as strategically restricting factor in the South Caucasus and symbol of age-long Armenian-Russian friendship,” Russian embassy stressed, adding that therefore  it is not surprising that besides implementing its direct issues the 102d Russian military base actively participates in the social life of the republic.

“Russian militaries assist in developing local infrastructures, take part in military-patriotic upbringing of the younger generations, hold different festive events,” the embassy said, stressing at the same time that despite the clear position of the Armenian authorities, a number of NGOs, using means of mass media "fed" by them are trying to divide the Armenian-Russian relations.

“Moreover, it is clear that they can’t but realize what catastrophic consequences may follow their approaches over close relations with Russia. In this regard, a reasonable question rises, on why the problems in the Armenian-Russian relations are being discussed not by Russians, but Armenians funded by West’s NGO and mass media. What is the purpose of the authors of various “independent” studies about disastrous consequences of deployment of Russian military contingent in Armenia and finally, who is interested in destroying historic relations between the two states? We may definitely say that the chief participants – Russia and Armenia – are not interested in it,” the embassy concluded.