“Russia is our strategic partner, and we expect Russia always remembers it, because it is also driven from its interests”, – so responded Giro Manoyan, Director of the ARF Armenian Cause and Political Affairs Office, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Turkey, during which Russia announced that it would reduce the price of gas supplied to Turkey.
To our question of how these close economic relations between Russia and Turkey would have an impact on Armenia-Turkey relations in the region, Mr. Manoyan replied, “It is clear that Turkey nowadays can play a role for Russia, in view of the fact that Turkey is not part of the sanctions applied against Russia by the West. In this event, Russia could try to satisfy Turkey, but strengthening of relations between Russia and Turkey should not be at the expense of Armenian and Armenia.” Mr. Manoyan does not rule out that Russia can strengthen friendly ties with Turkey at the expense of Armenia. “It might be so that in case of strengthening the economic relations, deep political relations could be established. And if the economic relations deepen so that Russia would begin based on some reasons trying to meet the demands of Turkey, then it is not ruled out that it might be done at our expense.”
Elya HOVHANNISYAN
