Most Armenians for deeper cooperation with Russia

December 21, 2005
Itar Tass
by Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN, December 21 -- Most Armenians, 75.9 percent, are for the further deepening of strategic partnership with Russia. This is shown by the opinion survey conducted by the Russian non-commercial organization "Caucasian Institute of Democracy Development Foundation". The respondents in Yerevan and in all the Armenian regions numbered 1,600.

As many as 93.3 percent of the respondents declared that the Russian military base in Armenia should stay, and 60.7 percent hold that the removal of the Russian military base from Dzhavakheti region in south Georgia will have a negative effect on Armenia's security.

Coming out for the strengthening of Russian-Armenian strategic relations, for the stay of the Russian military base in Armenia and for the deepening of cooperation in the military sphere, 51 percent of the respondents believe that Armenia-NATO cooperation should remain at the present level while 18.1 percent are for Armenia/s membership in NATO.

As many as 72 percent of the respondents believe that Russia plays a positive role in the process of the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, while 30.9 percent assess positively the role of the European Union.

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.