Ambassador says Russia does not equate Armenia with Azerbaijan

Russia does not equate its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin told journalists on 24 April at the memorial to the victims of the "genocide" of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey.


He made the statement, answering the question as to why Russia sold weapons to Azerbaijan, equating the two countries.


"It is not at all a question of equality. The thing is that Armenia is Russia's strategic ally and Azerbaijan is a strategic partner. The levels are absolutely different and there can be no talk about equality," Volynkin said.


As regards possible deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations against the background of the sales of weapons to Azerbaijan and the recent fighting in Azerbaijan's ethnic Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region, Volynkin said: "Yes, there may be some resentment and misunderstandings, but this does not mean at all that Russian-Armenian relations will move to another phase. Our relations are excellent, the leaders of our countries maintain constant contacts, and I think this situation will continue forever".

www.ann.az