Steady Russia-Armenia ties imperative for stability in Caucus
Nikol Pashinyan skipped the CIS summit in Kyrgyzstan last week, Russia-Armenia ties are striving to remain steady as the partnership serves national interests of both countries.
While there are fears that Russia-West conflict might “spread to Armenia '' in the backdrop of exodus from Nagarno-Karabah, Armenia and Ukraine are two different situations despite rising differences of opinion between Moscow and Yerevan.
Armenia is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and has a bilateral defense agreement with Russia. Armenia and Russia have strategic partnership and Armenia currently hosts around 10,000 Russian troops, 5,000 of which are stationed at Gyumri's 102nd Russian military base.
Others are stationed in Yerevan, including at Zvartnots International Airport.
Russian border troops have long overseen the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran borders and have been deployed more recently to sections of the Azerbaijan border in response to tensions there. Analysts say Armenia should consider Russia's offer to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a regional approach.
Experts do not foresee either any drastic changes in Armenia's foreign policy in the near future or any dramatic Russian moves against Armenia. “Armenia remains our ally and we are ready to discuss and will discuss humanitarian issues and provide support and assistance,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club. According to him, Russia used all legal possibilities to provide a humanitarian component in connection with the situation in Karabakh.
He noted that Russia is ready to assist Armenians who left Nagorno-Karabakh.
