RF MFA: EU seeks to separate Armenia from Russia

ArmInfo. The European Union is seeking to separate Armenia from Russia by strengthening its own control over the country. Mikhail Kalugin, Director of the Fourth  Department of the CIS Countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry,  stated this in an interview with TASS.

According to the diplomat, the European Union needs Armenia to  address its own geopolitical objectives, which are currently focused  on confrontation with Russia. "We see how the EU is trying to exploit  the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia for this purpose. Two  missions have already been deployed in the republic, similar to those  deployed during the election campaigns in Moldova," he noted. "The  stated goals may certainly sound noble, but in reality, the missions'  purpose is clear: to strengthen the EU's control over the republic's  socio-political life and economy, thereby facilitating its break from  Moscow," Kalugin added.

As the department head pointed out, European "specialists" are  literally trying to "make" Russia an enemy, creating the false  impression that Moscow is "against the establishment of an  independent Armenia." Furthermore, Kalugin continued, the Europeans  baselessly accuse Russia of "hybrid attacks" and interference in the  republic's internal affairs, "while for some reason they don't  consider their own deep involvement in them to be such."

"And in general, the EU has repeatedly been caught red-handed  attempting to orchestrate electoral processes in other countries. We  notice how some Armenian media outlets and officials are joining in  spreading these messages," the diplomat concluded.

At the same time, he acknowledged that Yerevan's so-called European  path could lead to systemic changes in relations with Moscow.  Commenting on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk's  statement that Armenia has come too close to the point where Russia  will have to restructure its relations with the country, Kalugin  noted that Overchuk's statement is an example of the signals that the  Russian side has conveyed and continues to convey to the Armenian  leadership and public at various levels.

"We believe that the citizens of our countries should know that  Yerevan's advancement along the so-called European path could at some  point lead to systemic changes in Russian-Armenian relations,"  Kalugin noted.

The head of the department emphasized that "the EU offers no clear  alternative in terms of instruments for ensuring security, economic  stability, well-being, and prosperity, which underpin the country's  sovereignty." "And this is understandable-Brussels' interest lies not  in caring for Armenia or the countries of the South Caucasus, but in  resolving, first and foremost, its own geopolitical challenges, which  are currently focused on confrontation with Russia," the diplomat  stated.

He emphasized that Russia and Armenia are bound by a number of  treaties that "guard the republic's security." "The CSTO remains an  important element of this architecture. For us, Yerevan's 'freezing'  of its membership in the organization does not change the essence of  these obligations. It is difficult to imagine what could replace such  guarantees. As we have seen during the EU-sponsored summits held in  Yerevan, no one offers a tangible alternative," the diplomat noted.

According to him, Russia, in turn, "has not only offered what it can,  but has for many years actually and effectively ensured Armenia's  stability and security." Among the Russian-Armenian security  agreements, Kalugin also named the 1992 treaty on protecting the  border with Turkey and Iran by Russian border guards, the 1995 treaty  on the deployment of a military base, and the 1997 treaty on  friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance.

"We are the republic's main trade and economic partner. By the end of  2025, 36% of its foreign trade turnover was with our country (while  the EU accounted for about 10%). 98% of agricultural products and 78%  of strong alcoholic beverage exports go to the Russian market. 98% of  foreign trade transactions are conducted in national currencies.  Dozens of domestic business projects have been launched in Armenia,  with a cumulative investment volume of $4.2 billion. Russia is the  guarantor of energy and food security.  At the same time, vital goods  and energy resources for Armenia are supplied at prices significantly  below market prices," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry  department concluded. He also commented on the Ukrainian President's  threat from Yerevan, noting that the Armenian authorities seemed to  ignore Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "disgusting attacks" against Moscow  during his visit to Armenia.

"Of course, Moscow noted Volodymyr Zelenskyy's clearly  Brussels-inspired visit to Yerevan, along with his disgusting  anti-Russian attacks, which the Armenian hosts studiously ignored,"  the diplomat noted.

According to Kalugin, holding the European Political Community and  Armenia-EU summits in Armenia fits into the logic of creating an  alluring European "mirage" for the Armenian population, especially on  the eve of parliamentary elections.

"From this perspective, one point is indicative. The statement  following the Armenia-EU summit mentions a sum-I emphasize-of ?2.5  billion for 'possible investments' in Armenia. This is exactly the  same amount the EU promised several years ago, but has been unable to  secure in all this time," the head of the department noted. "That is,  the Europeans are trying to 'sell' something that doesn't exist, and  not for the first time. The statement also missed the importance of  joint efforts to decommission the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant-one of  the pillars of the republic's energy supply-behind the glamorous  veneer," the diplomat added.

As Kalugin pointed out, all this only confirms that the Europeans'  obsessive attention to their so-called "equal partners" is based on a  purely utilitarian approach, which has been repeatedly stated. "In  Brussels, no one even considered the interests of Armenia, which  until recently sought to maintain an equitable position on the  Ukrainian crisis. The Europeans brought their Russophobic agenda to  the republic and- wittingly or unwittingly-pulled Yerevan into it.  Essentially, they used the country as a convenient platform for their  political schemes," the department head stated.