Aravot asked Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anna Naghdalyan to comment on the statement made by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Grigory Karasin.
Karasin said that Moscow expects for the new authorities in Armenia to find the strength to overcome the US’s blackmail and pressure, and to be able to make their own decisions. Karasin told the Ria Novosti news agency in an interview that National Security Advisor of the US John Bolton insulted the historical experiences of the Armenian people and called it a “historical cliche.” He also said that the US ordered Armenia to purchase American weapons and to become a part of anti-Iranian sanctions as quickly as possible. “If that is how the public side of Armenian-American relations is, then we can imagine how much they twist Armenia’s arms behind closed doors,” Karasin said. He also expressed hope that the new authorities in Armenia that received mandates during the parliamentary elections will be able to find the strength to overcome “obvious foreign blackmail and pressure and will demand to make their own decisions as per their sovereign right.”
Anna Naghdalyan said in response, “I must remind you that we have said many times that Armenia is consciously building its international relations on equal foundations. We will not build relations with a country to damage our relations with another, and this perspective will continue to remain the foundation of all our foreign policy decisions.”