On April 14, Alen Simonyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, commented on his recent telephone conversation with Valentina Matviyenko, the Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, noting that it took place on the occasion of her birthday and was primarily personal in nature. “We always communicate openly, directly, and with mutual respect. The main conversation was personal, on the occasion of a birthday,” Simonyan stated, adding that he expects to meet Matviyenko again in the coming days in Istanbul. He emphasized that the planned contact there would not be an official meeting.
Simonyan also noted that a meeting with parliamentary counterparts from Azerbaijan and Georgia is expected during an upcoming conference in Istanbul, expressing confidence that existing issues could be discussed and addressed. He stressed that Armenia does not intend to enter into conflict with Russia, stating that problems should be resolved through dialogue in order to move forward.
Addressing reports about potential difficulties faced by Armenian businesses in Russia, including issues related to brandy producers and Jermuk mineral water, Simonyan stated that Armenia poses no threat to Russia and has no intention of doing so. “There are some issues, but such issues exist between all countries. We, political figures, are here to discuss and resolve them,” he emphasized.
Commenting on Armenia’s approach to balancing its relations within the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, Simonyan noted that dialogue remains the key tool when differences arise. He referred to past attempts to reconcile these directions, recalling negotiations conducted under Serzh Sargsyan, the former President of Armenia, and subsequent developments.
Responding to a question about potential shifts in policy, Simonyan highlighted differences between past and current leadership, referencing Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and former leaders Robert Kocharyan, the former President of Armenia, and Serzh Sargsyan. He implied that the current government follows a distinct political course compared to previous administrations.
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