We did not, do not, and will not have the goal of harming Russia’s interests. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is currently on vacation and heads the ruling Civil Contract party’s proportional representation list for the parliamentary election on June 7, told this to reporters Monday.

Pashinyan assured that Armenia’s entire policy is being implemented in a public manner, and there is no conspiracy behind it. He explained that Armenia pursues a balancing and balanced foreign policy, the axis of which is mutual respect and acceptance of interests.

“We will continue to be guided by the state interests of the Republic of Armenia, and we will continue to deepen our relations, develop them with the Russian Federation, with the understanding that an inevitable transformation is taking place in these relations. It is not a matter of political taste, because there may be an interpretation that it is related to my person, to our political team; it is a process arising from objective reality. There are certain discomforts and nuances that need to be clarified in [Armenia’s] relations with the Russian Federation. We must work on these issues calmly, measuredly, without stress, without unnecessary nervousness. We will follow this logic,” Pashinyan noted.

He said that his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are based on mutual trust. Pashinyan noted that they discuss even the most acute issues calmly, respectfully, in a friendly atmosphere, and based on arguments and facts.

“And I will continue this logic. My respects to the president of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federation. Of course, we [i.e. Armenia] will also move in accordance with the logic of the law on deepening our future relations with the EU and starting the process of EU membership,” the premier of Armenia concluded.