Russia not threat to Armenia`s statehood - opposition rep 

ArmInfo. Russia is not a threat to Armenia's statehood. This was stated by Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a representative of the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary  Federation (ARF Dashnaktsutyun) and a member of parliament from the  opposition "Armenia" faction, at a parliamentary session on August 7.

He noted that he does not know to what extent Armenian goods meet  Russian standards. However, Saghatelyan expressed confidence that  restrictions on the import of Armenian products to Russia are the  result of a political decision. "Whether this decision is based on  partnership is a question you (the Armenian authorities - ed.) must  answer. Since none of us have personally spoken with Russian  President Vladimir Putin," the MP emphasized.

Meanwhile, as Saghatelyan recalled, it was Armenian Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan who once stated that he had "friendly relations" with  the Russian president, and none of the three former Armenian  presidents communicated with him as much as he did. "In that case, go  and mend your relationship (with Russia - ed.). You created this  crisis, for which Armenian citizens will 'pay,'" the opposition  leader emphasized.

At the same time, Saghatelyan recalled that Turkey and Azerbaijan  remain real threats to the country. In this regard, he questioned  whether the current government's approach can be considered correct,  given the price they are willing to pay to mend these relations.  Specifically, as the opposition leader pointed out, this includes  abandoning the Declaration of Independence, consigning the Armenian  Genocide to oblivion, making new concessions to Azerbaijan under the  guise of border delimitation and demarcation, unimpeded access to a  road through sovereign Armenian territory, and recognizing Artsakh as  part of Azerbaijan.

"This is the price you're trying to pay, and the path you've chosen  to improve relations. And here the question arises: after so many  concessions, will Turkey and Azerbaijan be satisfied, and will this  threat be averted? Definitely not. Because Azerbaijan hasn't stopped  since the signing of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020,  nor has it stopped since the de-Armenization of Artsakh and the  occupation of Armenian territories. Therefore, the path you propose  will not prevent these threats. We are not against improving  relations, but we are against the path the government has chosen,  because it leads to the loss (of statehood - ed.)," Saghatelyan  concluded.