Armenia keeps Russia ties while widening partnerships, Mirzoyan says

Armenia still maintains strong ties with Russia but is broadening its options across markets and alliances, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the Yerevan Dialogue international forum. “For decades, if not centuries, we always believed that in this hostile environment we needed a strong big brother, a friend who could protect us,” Mirzoyan said.

That perception has shifted, he added, because when protection was sought, “the assistance did not arrive,” which significantly changed the foreign policy outlook among citizens as well as political institutions and elites. Mirzoyan said the government aims to diversify markets, routes and partnerships and has already reduced dependence politically, economically and energetically.

Armenia is diversifying connections away from a single center while expanding the number of partners, he said. According to Mirzoyan, Armenia has established strategic partnerships with the European Union, China and Kazakhstan, and is developing very close relations with India.

He said the country has “somehow succeeded” in this approach so far and intends to continue in this direction.