RUSSIA NOT GOING TO ESTABLISH 2ND MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2007 14:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Statements that Armenia and Russia exercise vassal
relations are made by a group of oppositionists, who express their
personal opinion, RA Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatian said.
"I speak as an ambassador, who is perfectly aware of Armenia and
its interests in Russia. Let’s take the energy sector, 80 per
cent of which is owned by Russia. Some ten years ago our republic
suffered from lack of electricity and heating. We did not know how to
live. Today we are ready to sell great amount of electric power. I do
not see problems. If such emerge we always try to solve them at the
level of foreign ministers, embassies, entrepreneurs. Our population
estimated the rise in prices for gas as a non-constructive step. I
have numerously explained that the decision proceeded from Russia’s
pragmatic and economic interests. The problem was resolved and,
as result, a new mutually beneficial document was signed," he said.
The Armenian diplomat emphasized that there is not need in
establishment of another military base in Armenia.
"I wish we could pay more attention to the economic relations. Absence
of firm economic basis may jeopardize cultural, scientific and other
ties," Amb. Smbatian said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta.