Russian Security Council: Armenia seeks to expand cooperation with NATO

The Armenian government is pursuing a policy aimed at cutting ties with Russia and strengthening cooperation with the West, Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, stated during a meeting of the council's scientific‑expert board, Report informs via Interfax.

At the same time, Yerevan is trying to expand collaboration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Shoigu noted.

"The clearest situation concerns Armenia. Let me remind you that in the 1990s Russia helped the country out of an economic and energy crisis, and during ten years of membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Armenia's economy grew about threefold. Nevertheless, the current government is pursuing a policy aimed at severing ties with Russia and strengthening cooperation with the West," he said.

According to him, Yerevan's desire to expand cooperation with NATO and its openly consumerist attitude toward regional integration mechanisms – primarily the EAEU and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – are evident.

The Secretary added that Yerevan must determine its course and hold a referendum on whether to join the European Union (EU) or remain in the EAEU.

"Russia is not ready and will not finance Armenia's European integration. Every step in this direction has objective consequences," Shoigu stressed.

He also noted that "unfriendly policies and double standards" are evident in Armenia's treatment of Russian businesses. In his view, what is happening in enterprises and entire sectors where Russia has invested billions can hardly be described as anything other than "raider seizure."