Armenia keen on deepening, developing relations with Russia - Pashinyan

YEREVAN. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Yerevan is interested in developing its relations with Russia and with the region at peace now, those relations should be given a fresh look, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

"I want to confirm that we are interested in further deepening and developing our relations with Russia," Pashinyan said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on Tuesday.

The situation in the region and around Armenia has changed in recent years, Pashinyan said.

"It seems to us that it is necessary to look upon the situation from this standpoint because Russian-Armenian relations had a different meaning in a conflict environment, but with the peace now established in the region, it seems to us that it is necessary to give the situation a fresh look already. I think this will serve to develop our relations. We mean to deepen and develop our relations, and that is very important," Pashinyan said.

As for Russian enterprises active in Armenia, "very many Russian companies have been very successful in Armenia, they are highly profitable, pay taxes," Pashinyan said.

"But those companies should also be divided in two parts: the successful, profit-making ones are developing, but there also those which, unfortunately, are not making any profit and not developing. And that is a problem both for Armenia and for Russia. This, too, is an issue. These issues and nuances should be looked into and discussed," Pashinyan said.