YEREVAN. – Armenia is not refusing and will not refuse to pay for the Russian arms.

Vice President of the National Assembly (NA), Hermine Naghdalyan—who is also an MP of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia—stated the above-said at Thursday’s NA special session devoted to the agreement on receiving a US$200-million loan from Russia.

Naghdalyan noted that the said loan agreement shall fund the purchase of new Russian military equipment at factory prices that are set for the Russian army.

“Someone says Russia provides similar weapons to Azerbaijan,” she said. “Yes, it does provide, but with less favorable terms.”

In her words, even though Armenia still purchases Russian weapons under preferential terms, it is obligated to pay for them at once.

“After such favorable conditions, it would not be sensible to refuse to pay altogether; we have never refused to pay and haven’t delayed [it],” stated the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament. “In doing so, our country has acquired the standing of a solid partner.”