Armenian opposition leader calls for dialogue between Yerevan, Moscow
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Archbishop Bagrat calls for Armenia to maintain positive relations with the world and not develop ties "against anyone."
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Armenian Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan addresses protesters in Yerevan, Armenia, undated. (AFP)
New dialogue based on the existing agreements is crucial between Armenia and Russia amid the current crisis, said Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of Armenia's Tavush For the Homeland opposition movement.
"Today, Armenia’s relations with Russia are based on agreements, although these relations, to put it mildly, are not in a good state, if not to say that they have been totally or largely soured. That is why, although we have a lot of questions for the Russian side, these relations should be brought to the level of relevant agreements, and brought back on course," he noted, stressing that their relations need a profound dialogue and understanding because they are "non-existent at the moment".
"There are a lot of problems, but we must be ready to address them at the level of mutual understanding and dialogue," he continued.
Archbishop Galstanyan stressed that Yerevan should be guided by "Armenia's interests in everything," adding that Armenia's relations with the world should not develop "against anyone."
Earlier last month, Armenia announced its decision on May 9 to halt financial contributions to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) following the suspension of its membership in the Russian-led military alliance.
In a statement to the Sputnik news agency, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalian declared that Armenia would abstain from endorsing the November 23, 2023 decision regarding the CSTO's budget for 2024. Consequently, Armenia will no longer partake in funding the organization's operations.
Over the past year, Armenia has refrained from engaging in high-level meetings, military drills, and other CSTO activities, effectively suspending its membership, as articulated by Prime Minister Pashinyan in February.
Calls for Pashinyan's resignation
It is worth mentioning that protests have swept Armenia for nearly a month. The people are demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation, with the opposition nominating Archbishop Galstanyan as its candidate for prime minister.
On May 26, thousands of supporters of the Tavush for the Homeland movement held a rally in Yerevan to announce the opposition candidate, urging Pashinyan to resign after his government transferred four villages to Azerbaijan following an agreement to end hostilities between the two.
During the rally, influential Armenian Professor Gurgen Melikyan announced Bagrat as the opposition movement's candidate after he had led the Tavush for the Homeland movement over the past weeks.
"We have been in meetings and consultations for a month. Meetings were held with representatives of all spheres, and groups, from political parties to public entities, universities, scientific, cultural, and economic circles, security specialists, diplomats, businessmen, lawyers, various social groups, and many, many others. The vast majority of the participants of all meetings and discussions agreed that that person is, of course, Archbishop Galstanyan," Melikyan said.
