“Karabakh is the Armenian Sparta, around which All Armenians should be Consolidated”
Kayts Minasyan, analyst at the Center of Strategic Studies of France, is the interviewee of 168.am.
– Mr. Minasyan, the four-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan in the night of April 2 is over. What it should be followed by?
– After each war diplomats should rethink the circle of their responsibility and try to continue their work, which naturally, is more extensive after the war, as it needs correction, proofreading and settlement of all the issues, uncovered these days. Thus, currently, all the statements touching upon the fact of arms selling to Azerbaijan by Russia, and not only, are natural and should be perceived in this context. The point is what kind of solutions should be found. Currently it’s a bit soon speaking of solutions, and it’s secondary to touch upon the fact whether peacekeeping mission will be deployed in Karabakh or not. As it’s clear that any mediator and party to the conflict pursues its purpose, which is quite natural, as a result of which negotiations are developing in other direction.
I positively assess Serzh Sargsyan’s reflections on arms selling in Germany and in Yerevan at the presence of D.Medvedev, although the reply was given by D.Rogozin, that Russia should continue selling military equipment, however, from now on the issue will be whether they’ll continue exerting those arms against Armenians or no. That’s the point. It’s important to give proper solution to the issues, and rethink the existent situation.
– Indisputably, as some experts claim, Russia is interested in relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, war or peace isn’t favorable for Russia, the latter keeps that balance, performs work parallel to OSCE MG, has submitted proposals, one of which is deploying a peacekeeping mission in Karabakh, which was recently denied by Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of RPA faction, although deploying of a peacekeeping mission is planned after signing the agreement within OSCE MG. In case of wide-scale operations, what may Armenia wait from mediators and resolutions made by them? What will we hope for?
– We are in contrast regarding this issue. There are two options to maintain ceasefire: first, proposal by the West—J.Warlick’s proposals, i.e. investment of control mechanisms, to which Azerbaijan is against, and Russia didn’t express its disposition, and the second variant is the Russian one: to maintain ceasefire by deploying international peacekeepers in Karabakh. However, the Azerbaijanis prefer none of them—neither the American variant, nor the Russian one. They intend to return territories without participation of external actors, i.e. the recent war really dragged Azerbaijan to a really contrastive and complicated situation, as they didn’t succeed in the battlefield either. Take likewise actions for meters? So many casualties for 200 meters? All the militants and reporters in France simply laugh at Azerbaijan, it’s a military defeat, they should be realistic, they failed, Armenia showed proper oppression to prepared Azerbaijan.
– Like you mentioned, the situation needs to be rethought. Which should lessons for the Armenian side be?
– I consider, recent war has awakened us and all Armenians, the topic of Genocide has been repeatedly touched upon, especially in the Diaspora, on peace without advancement, reforms in Armenia, or the new Parliament, new Constitution, but the Armenian nation was at war; this is the reality. We should now be more consolidated for our interests, show power. Present-day authorities and the society should make a decision, as there is no other way out. When we are all together, we win, this is the reality. We should think of our common interests, not of personal ones. For instance, oligarchs should follow the example of our soldiers, they gave a good lesson to all political powers and authorities, instead of wasting money in casinos and for corruption purposes; money should be allocated to our interests, invested in our defense, our united interests. This should be the lesson.
The Armenian nation is more powerful, than it used to be 25 years ago, when it was in USSR, there was war, but there were only volunteers, freedom fighters, and there were no unmanned aerial vehicles and a regular army in the Republic of Armenia, support from abroad was reaching by unknown ways, it was impossible to connect to Armenia. Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are states now, “on their feet,” have armies, new ways, the Diaspora and Armenia have interests as well, currently we are more powerful , but under those conditions, we won the war 25 years ago, i.e. I have no doubt that we’ll win the war if it continues, however, I wish, it didn’t. God willing, it didn’t happen, but if it occurs, we’ll win. Karabah is our Sparta, and we all should be united around the concept of Sparta. There is no other way out. When a nation is at war, there is no any way out.
–How do you explain inactivity by the West these days?
– The West doesn’t understand why the Azerbaijanis attacked, at least, if they took 2-3 big cities, for instance, Aghdam, Martakert, they might understand there is a result in the battlefield, but no result was recorded. They wonder what Aliyev wanted. There are a few feelings—they either are surprised, or indifferent, as they have their own problems. But the occurrences originated lots of questions in the West. It’s good that in all countries the Armenian community had its say.
By Araks Martirosyan
