YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. PM Nikol Pashinyan says Azerbaijan is attempting to present Armenia in the West to be a strong pro-Russian country, and in Russia as a strong pro-West country.

The PM made the remarks when asked by MP Shirak Torosyan whether or not he sees a geopolitical factor behind Azerbaijan’s attack.

“Yes, there is a geopolitical context because for a very long time Azerbaijan is engaged in the following policy: they go to the West and tell them that Armenia is a pro-Russian state, a pro-Russian country, and to say the least are trying to advance the idea in the West of opening a second front for Russia in Armenia in context of the situation around the Ukraine issue. While in contacts with Russia, Azerbaijan is presenting Armenia to be a strong pro-Western country which has intense relations with the EU and the US and are trying to create a perception in Russia that perhaps it’s worth to punish Armenia so to say for its pro-Western policy and are attempting to create a perception in Russia for aggressive policy against Armenia,” the PM said.

The PM didn’t rule out that there are circles in the West and in Russia who like these ideas. However, Pashinyan expressed hope that there is no such perception on the state level. He stressed that in the recent period Armenia intensified its contacts with both Russia and the Western countries, explaining to them that the above-mentioned narrative is totally false.

“Semi-truth is more dangerous than lies. Armenia has very close relations with Russia, that’s a fact, it can’t be denied. Armenia has intensive contacts with Western countries, that’s also a fact. We very closely cooperate with the EU, we have strategic dialogue with the US. But the context which Azerbaijan is trying to present has nothing to do with reality because Armenia is a sovereign and independent state which is committed to its obligations,” the PM said.