YEREVAN. – Relations between Russia and Armenia are important in terms of the security of the two countries, since the Russian military base in Armenia’s Gyumri city is what Armenia needs; but it is indispensable, and at the same time important, for Russia, too.

Nikolai Silaev, Senior Research Associate of the Center for Research on the Caucasus at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, stated about the abovementioned at Tuesday’s presentation of the report entitled, “Russia-Armenia Integration against the Background of Global Crisis.”

In his words, it is gratifying that the crisis is discussed very little, or not at all, in the South Caucasus.

“On the one hand, the West probably understands what will be the price of imbalance in the South Caucasus. On the other hand, Russia-Armenia relations are quite strong [enough] to withstand the difficulties,” Silaev noted.

The analyst also stated that these relations are growing deeper, and Armenia is joining the—Russia-led—Eurasian Economic Union.

“And it’s important that the developed relations in the security sector also exist today in the economic sector,” Nikolai Silaev added.