Sale of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan is sensitive side of friendship - President Sargsyan
YEREVAN. July 17 (Interfax) - The sale of weapons by Russia to Azerbaijan is a sensitive issue on the Armenian-Russian agenda, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Sunday evening.
"It's the most sensitive side of Armenian-Russian friendship, Armenian-Russian military cooperation, our relations in general," Sargsyan said in an interview with the program R-Evolution on Armenia television.
This issue "casts a shadow" on a lot of things, the president said. There are circumstances that are "unacceptable to us, but acceptable to them," Sargsyan said. "If there are no serious consequences, we should consider that to be a long-term political activity by the Russian side for the purpose of stabilizing the situation in the region," the Armenian president said.
Responding to a question as to whether Russia's actions can be considered a foundation for a revision by Armenia of relations with its strategic ally, Sargsyan said: "As to the opinions of various people voiced by you, these are extremely dangerous words; it may create an extremely difficult situation."
"When you say revise, with whom do you want to revise and improve? With Turkey? Or is everyone in NATO looking forward to Armenia now entering there? Or maybe we will just become everyone's enemy, or will tell everyone, you are helping Azerbaijan and we will stand alone against the whole world?" he said.
Responding to a question about the possibility of diversifying politics in the sphere of security, the Armenian president said: "Are we only focused on the CSTO, only on Russia, do we not have relations with the European Union, do we not have relations with EU members?"
Responding to a journalist's remark stating that the volumes are incommensurate, Sargsyan said" Do you think it's possible? I think we now pursue such policies, having close allies and working with our partners."