ST. PETERSBURG, 25 December (BelTA) – I am not upset with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and I believe that Armenia will remain committed to cooperation with its current allies, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the media in St. Petersburg, BelTA has learned.

The head of state was asked whether he was upset over the fact that Nikol Pashinyan came to St. Petersburg for the EAEU summit but had skipped the CSTO summit in Minsk. "Why?! These are different formats. I was aware of that. I said then that he would fly to St. Petersburg. When I talked to him, I said: ‘Nikol Vovayevich, you're going to St. Petersburg, aren't you?' he said. ‘This is a different format, an economic one. We are upset with the military-political CSTO. But this one is the economy." That's why I knew that he would fly to St. Petersburg. I supported him in this then, and I support him now. What kind of offense is there?!" Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The journalists continued to ask questions: "Won't we lose Armenia as our friend?"

In response, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: "If Armenia wants to ‘die' economically, then we can lose it. But I don't think Armenians are stupid people. They are smart people. So no, I don't even worry about it. I am sure that Armenia is not going anywhere. Armenia remembers the Kabul airport scenes when the Americans were leaving. They will use Armenia In the same way and leave them behind. Do you think it will be different? It will always be the same. This is their policy. Armenians are smart people. They understand that this is exactly what will happen."

"Who's going to help them? Europe and France are trying to do something there. You see what is happening in France. They should sort things out in their own country and then get involved in the Caucasus. They can't figure it out for themselves. The Armenians see this. Believe me. What happens publicly is one thing. What happens outside the public domain is another story entirely. This is the essence of politics. The main processes take place behind the closed doors. By virtue of those processes, Armenia will definitely be with us. Because this is the most important direction of their development," the Belarusian leader added.