First, why is Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) so important? Because one of the foundations of the CIS is the Almaty Declaration of 1991, with which Armenia is working in all its negotiation directions today. Alen Simonyan, speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, stated this while speaking with reporters in the NA Monday.

"We [i.e. Armenia] cannot reject a format whose a core document is put as a basis for our main negotiating conversations

As for BRICS, yes, a decision was made [by Armenia] to participate [in it] because economically, Armenia has important ties. and I don't think we should put ourselves out of the region. You see that various countries in this situation, when various sanctions are in effect, various ways are being sought by the superpowers to transfer the economic flows in any way. Armenia, yes, based on its interests, should participate in BRICS," said Simonyan.

He assured that this does not contradict Armenia’s European integration in any way.

"Armenia and the people of Armenia are united and of the same opinion. We should not fall from one extreme to the other. Our value system and logic have not changed. It will be a direction consistent with Armenia's economy, rights, value system," said Alen Simonyan.