YEREVAN. - Armenia underestimates its importance for Russia and overestimates Russia’s significance for itself, the head of Center for Regional Studies Richard Giragosian said at a press conference on Monday.

He stressed that Russian military base in Armenia is the only example of a base in a foreign state, where local authorities pay for its maintenance.

“Russia is paying huge sums for placing its base in Kyrgyzstan, for operating the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, but the utility costs of Russian base in Armenia are covered by local authorities,” said the expert.

Asked which security system Armenia should adopt to protect its borders, Giragosian said that the Armenian people were faced with gravest misfortunes when they began to believe in promises of foreign countries, be it Russia, France or the United States.

“We need to increase self-confidence, only then we can achieve success,” he said, reminding that victory in Karabakh war was achieved not because of Russia, but contrary to Russia.