09/05/2014 17:04
Russian ambassador: I don’t retract my words
"My statement was negatively perceived not in Armenia, but only in some local circles,” Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin said.
“I did not urge anyone to leave Armenia, I only urged people to be honest concerning all matters. I do not retract my words. The point is that each my word can be interpreted in various ways. I came here to promote our relations and to do it based on mutual respect,” the ambassador noted.
In a recent interview with Russian-language Armenian paper ‘Noyev Kovcheg’ based in Moscow, Ivan Volynkin spoke in favor of regulating activities of NGOs in Armenia, like in Russia.
“Russia needs to more actively make its presence felt here, in the information field of Armenia. There is no doubt about it. But it is evidently necessary to use other methods as well to neutralize those NGOs in Armenia which want to drive a wedge in Russian-Armenian relations. By the way, Russia adopted a law that regulates activities of NGOs. In the final analysis, it is obvious that those who direct their work against the Russian-Armenian friendship wish well neither to Russia nor to Armenia,” the Russian ambassador said.