Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow following his meeting with Russian Federation Council Chair Valentina Matvienko, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan said that Armenia, as a sovereign state, has the right to pursue a balanced foreign policy and “has no intention of taking sides or acting against anyone,” Armenpress reported.
His comments came in response to a journalist’s question raising concerns that “Moscow, historically Armenia’s security guarantor, may pull away from Yerevan, while the European Union, which favors ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey, may not support Armenia.”
“I don’t share your view. I believe that Armenia, as a sovereign country, is entitled to conduct a balanced policy. Armenia has its own vision, especially since the 2020 war,” Simonyan stated.
He added that it is mistaken to think Armenia is attempting to shift its foreign policy alignment from one geopolitical pole to another, emphasizing that the country will neither be in one camp nor in the opposite one.
Before his visit to Moscow, Simonyan was asked whether he might raise the issue of alleged hybrid attacks by Russia against Armenia during talks with Russian officials, a topic he has previously addressed publicly.
“I believe there’s no doubt, for me or our team, that we will discuss any issue we’ve spoken about publicly. When Ms. Matvienko was in Armenia, I spoke openly. I’ve also conveyed our concerns during meetings with the ambassador. He was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was fully briefed. If the opportunity or need arises, I will raise the issue again. I think no one doubts that, whether I say it here on air or from the parliamentary podium,” Simonyan concluded.
