Russia`s attitude to Armenia is just partnership - Vahagn  Khachaturyan 

ArmInfo.  Armenia now has a completely different relationship with Russia, a partnership, in fact, a partnership. This was stated by the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan in an interview with RTVI, touching upon  Armenian-Russian relations.

"That is, the pressure or attitude of Russia towards Armenia is not  like an older - younger brother, but simply a partnership. What have  we really been trying to achieve over the past 4 years? We want our  Russian colleagues to take into account the decisions of the Armenian  authorities, the independent decisions of the Armenian authorities.  That is, the Armenian authorities work for the residents of Armenia,  for the well-being of the Republic of Armenia, prosperity, etc., etc.  For this, the Armenian government, the authorities themselves must  decide with whom, how to trade, work, have diplomatic relations,"  Khachaturyan noted.

Recognizing that Armenia is economically dependent on Russia,  Khachaturyan expressed the conviction that Russia is also  economically dependent on Armenia. According to him, this is a  two-way street.

To the remark that Armenia must make a choice between Europe and the  Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which was also mentioned by Russian  Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Khachaturyan wondered who this  bothers.

"This should be said to Overchuk, the question should be asked what  this means. For me, this is all normal, this is clear. This is a  diversified economy that can... At least, now no one is telling us  and: we are not violating anything. The conditions that are with the  EAEU - we work according to these conditions; the conditions that  exist with the European Union in the economic sense - we work. At  least, so far no problems have arisen," he noted.

According to Khachaturyan, negotiations and conversations at the  highest level are completely different - these are conversations of  balanced people, i.e. not when there is pressure, making some  decisions.

"Especially in recent times, if you look at the official statements  of the Russian authorities: well, if, of course, there is such a  decision, some party must make it, the Republic or Armenia,  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or other parties. That is, it is not an  obligation, that is, it is not pressure on that country. They always  say, and then they say - probably Overchuk too - that the decision  must be made independently, must be made by the countries to which it  applies. I think that in this matter there is no other way to  establish normal, in fact businesslike, friendly relations: you must  respect your partner," Khachaturyan concluded.

On January 9, the Armenian government approved the draft law on the  beginning of the process of joining the European Union, proposed by  the civil initiative "Eurakve". The draft was sent to the Armenian  parliament for approval. On March 26, the country's parliament  adopted it in the final reading and sent it to the president for  signature. The latter signed it on April 4. Moscow stated that Russia  had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian  Economic Union and the European Union was impossible.