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When Armenia’s strategic ally Russia Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin says that he sees no obstacles to Russian arms supplies to Turkey, the matter is not about Russian business interests, but predominantly of the expansion of its leverage and the political gains. The arms sale will allow Russia to enjoy more leverage over Turkey, and if need be, Russia will provide free of charge armament to Turkey, Director at Armenian Strategic and National Research Center Manvel Sargsyan told Panorama.am an interview.

“As far as Russia acts in accordance with own interests, Armenia should clarify its own stance. The time has come to build a system of relations with that state that has long been to the detriment to our national interests. I do not mean to declare Russia as an enemy or friendly state but rather take note of its interests and build new type of relations with it.  Number of agreements posing threat [to Armenia] should be abolished with new ones to be signed. Armenia should put forward new conditions before Russia to avoid compromising its security,” the political scientist explained.

Manvel Sargsyan went on suggesting “new system of relations” implies number of measures to be taken, the withdrawal of the Russian military base from Armenia, proper assessment of the actions derailing the strategic partnership - to mention some.

In Sargsyan’s evaluation, the threats coming from supplying Turkey and Azerbaijan are equal.

“Armenia does not receive equal amount of weaponry, since Russia is the one that determines and maintains the balance of the power. We are living a volatile period, and no one guarantees Turkey would not fire at us in the future from a Russian weapon, not to speak of the close strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Sargsyan said.