ST. PETERSBURG, June 4. /TASS/. The West and the United States approach Armenia with a mindset of "taking and looting," as they are interested in the country’s rare earth resources, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The diplomat drew attention to differing views regarding relations between Russia and Armenia. "One can continue living in certain illusions, or one can face reality and see what is actually happening," she said.
"The logic of 'taking away, looting, appropriating, humiliating, and destroying' is unfortunately still alive in the West, and they apply it, including in the Caucasus," Zakharova said.
As an example, she cited the recent visit to Armenia by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "He did not conclude international agreements that would be binding for both sides – otherwise that would imply equality. Certain declarative documents were signed, but at the same time there is an obvious trend, as they put it, toward resource-intensive and rare earth sectors that are of great interest to the United States," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman noted.
She stressed that "Russia has offered and continues to offer Armenia mutually beneficial, mutually effective, and mutually respectful cooperation and development of relations in all areas – energy, trade, tourism."
