Sergey Kopyrkin: Russia staying in South Caucasus
ArmInfo. Russia is not only staying in the South Caucasus, but also maintaining its focus on the region and its relationship with the Republic of Armenia, as a fraternal and allied country. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin made this statement in an interview with Euromedia24. According to him, high-level visits could be a way to signal this commitment.
In this regard, the ambassador recalled Armenia's Foreign Minister's visit to Moscow , followed by a return visit of the head of the Russian MFA to Yerevan, and then the arrival of the head of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
He urged to face the facts: "Geography, history, humanitarian factors, and security issues all make Russia an integral part of the regional situation. "How could Russia get out of this place? Of course, difficult processes are currently taking place and Russia is facing fateful challenges. We are all aware of this, but it doesn't diminish the significance of the South Caucasus and relations with Armenia for the Russian Federation," the diplomat emphasized. In this context, Kopyrkin stated responsibly that the South Caucasus is one of the priority areas of Russia's foreign policy.
The ambassador agreed that Armenian-Russian relations are currently facing challenges, which is understandable given the complex developments taking place in the region and globally. While describing the situation as a challenge for bilateral relations, the diplomat also saw it an opportunity to strengthen and adapt them to the current contradictory realities. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of engaging into an open, meaningful, active dialogue and coordinating positions to avoid any misunderstandings and build trust. "This does not mean agreeing on everything. However, an open dialogue, based on a mutual desire to preserve the core of our relations, especially between our peoples, is the goal of high-level and highest-level contacts," he emphasized.