Russian spokeswoman warns of risk in Armenia-NATO relations

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said that if any country wants to have close relations with any organisation, it is necessary to understand the level of insecurity and consequences.

Zakharova made these remarks at a briefing, while commenting on NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina’s statement, Caliber.Az reports citing the Russian media.

“We have already seen what NATO’s proximity leads to for many countries, namely, involvement in conflicts, loss of sovereignty and independence, subordination to someone else’s plans and in all spheres, and most importantly, lack of opportunity to realise own national interests,” she said.

Colomina said that NATO is encouraged by Armenia's shift towards the bloc in foreign and defence policy.

“What are the national interests of each country, in particular, Armenia? It is necessary to analyse this. We should open a map to see in which region this country is located. It is necessary to read history textbooks for those who speak out in favour not only of close relations, sovereign countries can make decisions independently, but in favour of closeness, which presupposes a severance of relations with the regional countries, with neighbours. We should analyse all this and understand Armenia’s national interests, short-term, medium-term, long-term benefits, and proceed from this, rather than from promises,” she said.

Zakharova added that the West makes promises to everybody.

“I’m wondering about the fulfilled promises. When it is necessary to bribe officials, as it was in Ukraine, Moldova, several other countries, the West has enough money for this, and so on. However, when it is necessary to create real platforms and a basis for the development of the economy of the corresponding countries, with which NATO and the US intend to have close relations, then for some reason the promise is never fulfilled. I don’t know any examples over the last 30-40 years. I haven’t seen them,” Zakharova added.

Colomina, also said that NATO wants rapprochement with Armenia, saying that the country has recently decided to politically and practically intensify cooperation with NATO.