HIGHLIGHT: Russia is playing an important role in ensuring Armenia’s security, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with EU Observer on Monday.

YEREVAN, July 2. /TASS/. Russia is playing an important role in ensuring Armenia’s security, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with EU Observer on Monday.

"Russia today is playing the role which provides hard security [for Armenia]. Look at Azerbaijan. Look at Turkey. We're a country that has been blockaded for 27 years by these two states, a country which has existential security threats," he said. "Is there anyone else standing there ready to help?"

He cited the examples of Georgia and Ukraine. "Look at the countries who are trying to become NATO members [Georgia and Ukraine]. How long have they been in the queue? Ten years, is it? We can't afford ten minutes," he stressed.

He ruled out any possibility of Armenia’s quitting the Eurasian Economic Union. "What happened in Armenia [the Velvet Revolution] – was it democratic enough for you? Was it good enough? Or does it have to be anti-Russian for it to qualify as democratic?", he said.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly said that his political team wants to expand strategic and allied relations with Russia.