Armenian-Russian Relations Have a New Quality and Level: Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a Q&A session in the Armenian Parliament, responded to the remark made by Alexey Sandikov, a member of the 'My Step' faction, stating that Armenian-Russian relations have entered a new phase. He said, 'We have a preliminary agreement that in 2020, I will make an official visit to the Russian Federation, and the President of the Russian Federation will either visit Armenia in the second half of 2020 or the first half of 2021. I want to answer these questions as directly as possible, without any diplomatic ambiguity. Just like in the context of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue resolution, numerous questions have arisen in the context of Armenian-Russian relations after the non-violent Velvet Revolution, including in Russia. Let us acknowledge that all these questions have arisen in all areas and were not anticipated by anyone; thus, it is quite natural that those questions have emerged again in the same context. This intensity has also existed in the last one and a half years. The meetings and conversations between the President of Russia and myself after the 2018 results have had an unprecedented dynamic.'

Pashinyan believes that over time, questions receive answers, and there is a challenge in both understanding the depth and sincerity of those answers. He stated, 'I said last summer that I believe we are on a path that records a new level and new quality in our relations. I can say that this has now been recorded; I can confidently say that it is happening now. There was a time when I mentioned it, and many were skeptical about it,' he added, noting that current statements are filling that gap.