YEREVAN. – Strategic relations between Armenia and Russia have passed the test of time, Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with Slovenia's Delo newspaper.

“We have close relations of allies with Russia, we want to develop, strengthen friendly partnership with all countries of the world. Some countries claim that they have a strategic relationship almost with all countries of the world. This is hardly possible,” Nalbandian said.

Answering to the remark whether unique position of Armenia – Eurasian Union member state and a country having preferential trade regime with EU – can turn the country into a mediator between Russia and EU, the Minister said: “I think neither EU, nor Russia need mediators for the development of economic ties. We are a member of the Eurasian Union and at the same time have good economic relations with EU. If there are advantages, we will use it in the interests of Armenia, as well as of our Eurasian and European partners.”

The Minister said it is wrong to ideologize economic relations, as Armenia's joining Eurasian Union has a strategic importance for the country.

“This provides us with more simplified access to protected commodity markets, to the single market services of the Eurasian Union, attraction of investments, creation of industrial and agricultural cooperatives, duty-free access to the resource base, access to transport corridors, simplified migration regime, etc. I am no expert in this field, not an economist, but the benefits are obvious,” he added.