Putin’s visit to Baku reaffirmed Armenia to be Russia’s main strategic partner: political expert

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was interested in two issues in Azerbaijan. This was stated on August 16 at the press conference by the political expert Stepan Grigoryan. According to him, these two issues were the Azerbaijan’s policy in supplying gas and oil to Europe bypassing Russia and the country’s attitude towards the integration processes in the framework of the CIS countries. Stepan Grigoryan noted that Russia had an objective to soften the Azerbaijan’s policy in supplying gas and oil to Europe by an alternative way.

The political expert reminded that Baku does not participate and does not support the integration processes in the framework of the CIS countries.“Baku has not changed its position in supplying gas and oil to Europe by an alternative way and has not changed its mind concerning the participation in the integration processes in the framework of the CIS countries”, - said Stepan Grigoryan, as reported by Armenpress, adding that in response, Russia has not changed its position in the Karabakh conflict issue. “Armenia continues to be the Russia’s main strategic partner in the region”, - said the political expert, emphasizing the high level of the Armenian-Russian relations in the military field.

The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin paid a working visit to Azerbaijan on August 13. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoygu, the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak, the Minister of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation Vladimir Puchkov, the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Maxim Sokolov and a number of other high rank officials were included in the Russian delegation. During the visit a shameful accident occurred, particularly theForeign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov was called with an obscene phrase.