YEREVAN. – Russia’s cooperation with Azerbaijan is a deterrent, and not a factor that provokes Azerbaijan toward undue actions. 

Russian analyst Vitaliy Naumkin on Saturday told the above-said to reporters, within the framework of the Moscow-based international Valdai Discussion Club’s outdoor session, entitled “Time of Change: World in the Era of Global Unpredictability,” in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan. 

In his words, Russia’s arms sale to Azerbaijan is a very sharp question.

“I know that this matter sometimes leads to disagreements among our Armenian friends,” stressed Naumkin. “But let’s say it straightforwardly. We live in the post-Soviet expanse, and it is Russia’s policy to have friendly relations with the countries in the area. And it’s not that Russia is doing some actions that can cause harm to Armenia; I believe this is ruled out.

“There is technico-military cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan; (…) but this is a deterrent that helps so that this weapon is used neither against Karabakh nor against Armenia.”

To the remark that, nonetheless, this weapon is used against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), he responded as follows: “Sadly, we cannot stop all that. (…). Today, no one can deny that Russia is a supplier, first of all for the sake of Armenia’s security. (…). Whoever attacks Armenia, Russia will always participate in the defense of Armenia. (…). And second, Russia is a provider of energy resources. These two important things, which Russia is doing as Armenia’s strategic ally, automatically make everything else inessential.”