YEREVAN. – The factor of Russia using “soft power” in Armenia is a complex, systematic matter that requires daily work, Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopirkin stated at a press conference on Tuesday. In his words, there are considerable resources in this regard.
“The basis for this ‘soft power’ is the ties that have united the peoples of Armenia and Russia for centuries,” Kopirkin explained. “They are the very close human relationships that are the foundation of interstate relations between the two countries.”
But the ambassador noted that the respective steps being taken today are not enough, and active work should be carried out with civil society and the media.
“My speaking today is a demonstration of its awareness,” the diplomat noted. “The [Russian] embassy and Russian organizations that operate in Armenia are inclined toward raising [Russian-Armenian] bilateral relations to a new level.”
In Sergey Kopirkin’s view, the growing tourist attraction of Armenia also plays a part in this regard, since this enables a large number of Russians to get familiarized with the country and makes it possible for Armenia to continue to develop its economy.