Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s request to sell Armenia a railway concession is causing surprise and “emotions inside,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RBC TV channel.
The minister noted that regular contacts are held between the deputy prime ministers of Russia and Armenia, and any issues of interest to the Armenian side can be discussed, including the situation with the South Caucasus Railway, which is under the concession management of Russian Railways.
“We are surprised to hear how these issues are... If they have already arisen, tell your colleague how you judge this. And instead, a public statement is made that it is “theirs” in general, and in general we owe them 2 billion,” Lavrov said.
“I understand that, in addition to assessments based on economic analysis, this causes emotions in the chest of our citizens. I am no exception,” he added.
Answering the question of how to “not allow the same mistakes” in relations with Armenia, as was the case with Ukraine, the minister noted that “everything has been done” on the Russian side. “All our positions and the advantages that Armenia receives from participation in the Eurasian Economic Union, receiving energy from us at prices 3−4 times cheaper than in the European Union. I proceed from the fact that there are good economists there,” the Russian Foreign Minister added.
On Monday, Pashinyan announced that Yerevan is asking Moscow to sell the concession to manage the railways in the republic to a third country. Asked what Armenia would do if the Russian side rejected Yerevan's proposals regarding the railways, Pashinyan said that this was impossible.
