Prior to the meeting in Astana, information was circulated about selling weapons to Azerbaijan by Russia. Aravot.am asked the political scientist Alexander Manasyan whether every time circulating such information prior to such meetings is not a psychological pressure over Armenia. “It is not excluded that it is provided by the fact that Armenia will be more alert, more modest and so on. It is not excluded. It can be a form of pressure. But the ratio of forces, Armenia and Azerbaijan, is known. In other words, it is not that Russia is violating to resolve the problem. It Russia violates so, Europe will enter and make investments in the same form,” replied Mr. Manasyan, “Karabakh issue is not such a minor problem. It is a global, worldwide problem. Therefore, it is wrong to be equipped with such naive steps or expectations.” To our question of whether Russia does not violate the Armenian-Russian friendship treaty by selling weapons to Azerbaijan, according to which both parties should contribute to peace and not vice versa, Alexander Manasyan said, “Now I will ask you a question. Doesn’t Russia give you weapons?”. To our observation that we are age-old friends with Russia, and selling weapons to Azerbaijan, as assured by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, is a business, and businesses actually is preferred to friendship, he said, “It is not. I do not agree with you. Do not believe it. Azerbaijan is a country that takes a particular place in the policy of Russia, it incurs from the interests of Russia not to be hostile but to maintain this kind of relationship with Azerbaijan. And what do you think, doesn’t it hurt Azerbaijan when Russia is sending weapons to them, and the other batch of weapon is coming to Armenia. Don’t they understand? And doesn’t Azerbaijan understand that they are wasting money, Russia is extorting money from them with the help of these weapons.” To our observation that these weapons will be used against us, the political scientist replied that it gives also its counter tool, “You are you constantly thinking of the Armenian position. You’re talking about Russia’s move, think and take a minute to become a Russian. What friend, what feelings in the politics! All of that is from the sphere of romanticism and naivety.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
