“The situation will be more dangerous in 2013,” Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, a political scientist, made this prediction during a conversation with www.aravot.am, commenting on Aliyev’s latest statements, particularly the threats made in his New Year message and on Russian TV channels.
Considering the situation in the context of the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan, H. Melik-Shahnazaryan noted: “Since a presidential election will take place in Azerbaijan, and the Karabakh theme is one of the pillars of Aliyev’s policy, I assume that the year 2013 will be rather tense. The tensions will rise, and one shouldn’t have expectations from the negotiating process. Azerbaijan’s steps aim at even more consolidation of the people and keeping them in the state of military readiness. The situation will be more dangerous.”
Read also
In response to our question whether the Armenian side adequately responded to the Azeri policy at present, the political scientist said: “Our main achievement in the negotiating process is that the positions of the international community and the Armenian side are rather close, and in that sense, one can avoid the pressure of the international community
and observers. As a result, we can be guided exceptionally by our interests. As for responding to the Azeri policy and defending ourselves, then yes, I think our response is more than adequate.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
