New Delhi, June 7 -- The man who signed a strategic partnership charter with the United States less than two weeks ago stood before reporters Sunday and said he wanted to fix things with Russia. Carefully, quietly, without a fight.

and that he expected to pursue that improvement once the votes were counted. "Armenian-Russian relations require a certain improvement," Mirzoyan told reporters, adding that Yerevan hoped to work with Russian partners "in a healthy, constructive atmosphere, discuss existing problems that arise in any bilateral relations, and find solutions beneficial to both Armenia and Russia."

The statement landed against a backdrop that made the word "constructive" do considerable work. Russia has no ambassador in Yerevan ...