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“WE ARE CONCERNED OVER NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION”

Politics

“Russia is not worried about Armenia’s warm relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO),” RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Yerevan today in reply to a journalist.

Minister Lavron added that they actively collaborate with the NATO and see no menace from an organisation which struggles against global challenges with Russia's partners.

“But we are seriously concerned over NATO's artificial expansion to the East which is not grounded and has nothing to do with the real challenges,” said the Russian FM.

Note, it is the fourth time the Armenian and Russian FMs have met over the past five years. The parties emphasized the urgency of resolving the Karabakh conflict through peaceful negotiations. The recent outbreak of the Russian-Georgian war has proved that the regulation of any conflict by force is doomed to failure,” said Lavrov.

With regard to Turkey's initiative to create a Cooperation and Stability Platform in the Caucasus, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian said “it aims to ensure stability in the region and promote partnership between regional countries.”

“No one will doubt that we support the initiative but still there are some issues to be discussed regarding mechanisms, activity, format and key actors. The negotiations have just started and it is still too early to speak about the outcome. Nevertheless, the Armenian side welcomes any initiative aimed at strengthening regional security and stability,” said Minister Nalbandian.

Sergey Lavrov also welcomed any step directed to enhancing humanitarian collaboration.

The Russian FM also spoke about commodity circulation between the two countries saying that they are pleased with the partnership in all spheres. The Russian investments in Armenia have mounted to 1.3 billion dollars. Trade between Armenia and Russia has gone up by 20 percent over the past few months, Lavrov noted.