“We were convinced that the problem could be solved through exclusively peaceful means, however today the situation is different. Ceasefire and supporting agreements have been violated, five statements of the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states – US, France, and Russia – were violated, bloodchilling war crimes were committed, and now we are telling everyone – point your finger to the aggressor, expose the aggressor so that lessons are learned, so that we can move forward,” said President Serzh Sargsyan.
“Just a few weeks ago, during the large-scale offensive unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh, Azeri soldiers were not content with just shooting their arms: they mutilated elderly people, Armenian soldiers, decapitated them and cut off their ears and presented those actions in the social networks as a manifestation of heroism. It was all evidently encouraged by the Azerbaijani authorities. “
“I can say that 24-hour news cycle forms an insensitive audience, because that news becomes common. When you hear about 1 million refugees, it is just a number; it is more effective when a little boy is found dead washed ashore. In this case people find time to focus on this issue, and then they realize that the UN has not done enough for the refugee crisis. The way we respond to the refugee crisis is horrible.”
In his turn, Edward Nalbandyan, RA MFA, enumerated proposals made by the Azerbaijani side in Moscow before Sochi. “This way we may go back even to ten years and reach Paris negotiations,” Nalbandyan said.
Leader by asset volumes is Ameriabank (AMD 507.7 billion), which is followed by Ardshininvestbank (AMD 461.1 billion) and VTB Armenia Bank (AMD 314.8 billion). In percentage the biggest growth of assets throughout the quarter was recorded by Ardshininvestbank (15.1 %), and the biggest decrease—by BTA Bank (19.8%).
In 1997 RA law on the title of the “National Hero of Armenia” hasn’t been changed yet. Accordingly, Nikolai Ryzhkov wasn’t a RA National Hero yet. That was to follow. Our tankers were to participate in “Tank biathlon” international competition, initiated by RF Ministry of Defense. They’d participate being leaders of the competitions, and would slow down in the last minutes. They’d slow down, so that Russian tankers were the winners. And RF Ministry of Defense would award a prize—T-90 tank, to our tankers for holding the second place. It’d promise, but wouldn’t give. Such a sound military-technical cooperation.
It’s noteworthy, that Lavrov himself has repeatedly denied existence of such a document. This was also denied by Igor Popov, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair (Russia), stating no Russian plans are available at the negotiation table, moreover, he added, “There are proposals by the Co-chairs, which have been discussed throughout recent years in this or that form. A few variants are available, however, they’re based on three principles and six elements of the conflict settlement, which have repeatedly been stated by the Co-chairs. Let me remind about these principles: the right to self-determination, exclusion of the use of force, territorial integrity, and most important among the six basic elements are the return of the territories and the status settlement of NKR.
“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.”
Russian media outlets are silent on why Russia intends to settle a conflict, unsettlement of which is a crucial component of Russia-led foreign policy. They are silent that its main purpose is Azerbaijan’s membership to EEU. Russian media outlets are silent that for that membership the Russian side was obliged to exert pressure over Armenia to redeem those territories to Azerbaijan.
“It’s being developed. We’ll inform as soon as it’s ready,” Tigran Balayan, RA MFA press speaker said. Note, a week ago, Shavarsh Kocharyan, RA Deputy Foreign Minister stated that the agreement on mutual assistance is being processed, which won’t last long.
