MFA: The West demands that Armenia eliminate the "Russian factor", promising investments

The West demands that Armenia eliminate the "Russian factor" in the transport sector, promising investments in return. This was announced today, August 26, by the Russian Foreign Ministry, RIA Novosti reports.

"They demand to eliminate the "Russian factor" in the transport sector, and in exchange they promise multimillion—dollar investments and connection to projects whose economic feasibility is hardly visible," the ministry said.

At the same time, Yerevan's arguments that Russia's concession prevents it from becoming a participant in logistics initiatives do not correspond to reality.

"Yerevan's arguments that the Russian concession, they say, prevents Armenia from becoming a participant in logistics initiatives, are absolutely untrue," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that all explanations in this regard were given at various levels. At the same time, the Armenian side finds it difficult to give counter-arguments.

"In general, before making public statements, partners usually sit down at the table and discuss existing problems and concerns in a businesslike manner. Especially if there is a desire, as stated in Yerevan, to find a solution in a friendly manner," the department said.

As EADaily reported, earlier this week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan was asking Moscow to sell a concession to a third country to manage railways in the republic. Answering the question of what Armenia will do if the Russian side refuses Yerevan's proposals on railways, Pashinyan said that this is impossible.

The railway infrastructure of Armenia was transferred to the concession management of the SCR for 30 years with the right to extend for another 10 years in February 2008.