ARMENIAN MP: IT’S BEEN NOT THE FIRST TIME WHEN RUSSIA DISCARDED ARMENIA’S INTERESTS IN SORTING OUT ITS RELATIONS WITH GEORGIA
Regnum, Russia
Oct 3 2006
Introducing economic sanctions against Georgia will hardly affect
Armenia, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan has told
reporters. "Unfortunately, it’s been not the first time when sorting
out relations with Georgia, Russia discards Armenia’s interests. They
expect us, probably, to treat this issue with understanding, but I
personally do not have such understanding, as it turns out that our
strategic ally, wishes it or not, joins the blockade of Armenia,"
he says.
At the same time, Vahan Hovhannisyan notes that there is no necessity
in revising allied relations with Russia. "Allied relations suppose
diplomatic work instead of hectic, hysterical moves," he notes. The
deputy speaker also informs that in two weeks a session of the joint
Armenian-Russian interparliamentary commission will take place;
its agenda includes discussion of the Russian-Georgian relations in
the context of Armenia’s communication problems. He also notes that
contacts with the Russian side concerning this issue already exist.
Vahan Hovhannisyan expresses hope that after Russian officers are
released the positions will alleviate. "The matter is, how the Georgian
side reacts to it: it can well try to gain revenge in other front. It
is rather difficult to predict today," Armenia’s deputy parliamentary
speaker says.