GRYZLOV DID ARMENIA DISSERVICE

Head of the Russian State Duma, representative of “Unity” faction Boris Gryzlov did Armenia a disservice by calling the independent state an outpost. However, for Armenia being Russia’s ally does not mean being Russia’s outpost. An alliance can be formed with an independent state on the basis of mutual interests but never with an outpost. We do not call Russia an Armenian outpost only because it is Armenia’s ally and do not think Russians would like such an interpretation. Armenia is an independent state with its own interests and is no one’s outpost or vanguard. We have maintained our independence. Preserving allied relations with Russia we do not forget whose army together with the Azeri OMON deported the Armenian population of Karabakh in 1991 and even intruded into the territory of Armenia (village of Voskepat, Noemberian region of Armenia). However it was Azerbaijani President but not Armenian officials, who reacted to Gryzlov’s statement. “We thought Armenia is a state but not an outpost”, he said today. Really, Armenia is by no means an outpost, but there are still some people in the capital of the former USSR, who have not realized yet that the USSR collapsed 13 years ago and nowadays Russia needs Armenia no less that Armenia needs Russia.