“Armenia should Cancel all the Contracts Chaining its Hands”
Interview with Manvel Sargsyan, Head of Armenian Center for Strategic and National Research.
– Mr. Sargsyan, the four-day war seems to be over, however shootings, sabotage attacks still continue, military force is not withdrawn from the borders, just the contrary, they are still gathering. What may we expect?
– During the war the Armenian side stated on its disposition by many theses, i.e. it’ll impose Azerbaijan a ceasefire with harder conditions, and it’ll be implemented bilaterally, between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and if they will continue, we’ll recognize Karabakh. Rather clear and logic statements have been made, and suddenly the war was suspended. Now they still say they were the first to attack and had already taken the control, but something went wrong. That is, these steps showed that people responsible for that, don’t act by having clear standpoints. Moreover, I noticed, both form and time of signing a ceasefire didn’t serve Armenia’s interests, but that of other states. Both Azerbaijan and Russia gained from it, which means our officials acted out of interests of other states.
Naturally, armies stand face to face, and every minute the Azerbaijanis wait for violation of the ceasefire, and they’ll be repelled from the positions, which they’ve currently taken. Everything may be taken, but it’s impossible to keep anything. Currently positions taken by them are maintained due to the ceasefire established due to Russia, i.e. Russia gave those positions to them.
– It turns out that on the first days Russia waited, didn’t interfere, and when the Armenian side started to attack, they immediately interfered, i.e. did they act out of Azerbaijan’s interests?
– Sure. Our officials as well acted out of the interest of Azerbaijan. That issue was set by the society, they’ve sent official letters to various officials. This is a matter of state crime, and this issues should be mandatorily be set, the guilty should bear the responsibility.
– Russia attempts to increase its value in negotiations, and insists, that without it, peace is impossible. They set forward the thesis of retreating some regions and deploying a peacekeeping mission.
– We’ve heard those old tails, and currently they’re risen as well, to keep control in their hands.
– Instead, Azerbaijan should become a EEU member. How probable is that?
– The very first day the war was over, Russian diplomatic paratrooper landed in Baku, RF Prime Minister Medvedev was developing a similar unified program together with Iranian MFA. That is, it was observed, that it’s favorable for Russia to withdraw Azerbaijan from Turkey, engaging it in likewise various projects, and making use of this war for that very purpose. I think it’ll go on.
– However, Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated it won’t engage with EEU.
– It’s not only EEU, Azerbaijan asked to stop the war, and this is a dear pleasure. So expensive, that violation of agreements in future may have hard implications for Azerbaijan. Generally, Azerbaijani experts also write, that this was a war against the people. This is true. After such a war it’ll be difficult for Azerbaijan to do what it wants. We may behave in any way, as Russia obviously betrayed us, rater openly. And political condition of Azerbaijan is hard now. For this, Russia will attempt to make use of both Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia political-economic line and keep it apart from Turkey, until it solves its issues with Turks.
– But Turkey in its turn won’t retreat Azerbaijan to Russia.
-The policy is exactly in this. Aliyev didn’t ask Turkey to suspend war, he should have asked Turkey, why did he ask from Russia? It would be more clear for me, if he applied to Erdogan to save him and stop the war. But he has made another choice.
–Turkey couldn’t impact on Armenia, that’s why they applied to Russia.
– Sure. That country’s backlash is rather narrow. That’s why we should think over what war was this and how it was initiated?
– In that case what should the disposition of Armenia’s authorities be? An offer is already existent in NA to withdraw from EEU.
– Armenia should definitely unchain itself from all accords, which tie its hands.
– Which ones do you mean?
– There is an accord, upon which Armenia, for instance, isn’t entitled to have certain relations with other countries for a particular period. What’s that? All such agreements, which in any way may obstacle arms purchase and army formation, should be canceled. We need freedom only. If some country gives something to us, it’ll always give, and no contract is needed. If it doesn’t give, it’ll never do. It’s is our political tragedy, that throughout 25 years we have created so many chains for us, that we need to ask to provide armaments pursuant the agreement. Why? Who are they to touch upon those issues? We should be free with all states. They should come and ask, as much Armenia depends on Russia, this much Russia depends on Armenia regarding Turkey and Azerbaijan. This crucial issue should be understood and that language should be applied to them. Remember, last summer, when people went out to Baghramyan street, a great delegation was sent here to sign under out terms.
– Armenia’s authorities insist, that Russia is our natural ally, if not Russia, the USA won’t come here to fight against a Turk. They forget of Iran, which is a more natural ally and is more supportive in many issues.
– These tales about Russia and the USA have been heard for about 25 years. There is no perception here what is an ally, different standpoints have led our country for two decades, which have been sanctified: the world is against us, we have no friends, we have no way out and we should find a common language with our neighbors at any price, and that childish romanticism deepened to a degree that, in general, acquisition of simple political mentality became impossible for our politicians. If they are deeply convinced in such fake things, they’ll never obtain political mentality, even if they learn much. What does an ally mean? Does an Armenian know of this? We don’t have allies. It seems to some people that the Armenian nation was just simply massacred in 1915. They did it, as people didn’t know what sharp criticism, power, self-determination meant. They don’t even know now. If you don’t know, how do you want to live? You’ll put your life under the feet of the world.
By Gayane Khachatryan
