The topic is discussed between the leader of Democratic Part of Armenia, Aram Sargsyan, and ANM Board member, Hovhannes Igityan
Aram Abrahamyan – Would you agree that the reasons for the escalation of border situation are political and it is not the initiative by local field commanders?
Aram Sargsyan – Absolutely. Just to remind you that during the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, Azerbaijan was displaying the same behavior hoping that Georgia will achieve success, and they had already developed a plan. They will pretend that they are attacking the north of Armenia, the Armenians would take a part of their troops there, and the main attack would begin in Artsakh. Now Russia’s “head is busy with” the events in Ukraine, the United States and Russia are in serious conflict, and in this event, it is possible that the interests collide in this region, too, and we can become the next apple of discord when the two superpowers are trying to clarify their relationship in our territory accordingly. So, Aliyev is not doing and independent step, but everything stems from the situation which has been developed with regard to purely geopolitical process.
A. A. – Perhaps, you also agree that it is Azerbaijan’s rather than ours or Karabakh’s initiative. But probably about the reasons, as to why Azerbaijan has initiated it, you are of different opinion.
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Hovhannes Igityan – Certainly, it comes from Azerbaijan. I always look at the statements addressed equally to Armenians and Azeris with disagreement, which are made by Russia and the Minsk Group when “the parties are asked to cease.” Ultimately, it is the 21th century, and the technical means have been developed so that it is possible, if you really desire, to see where it comes from, and who does it, and to say, “Azerbaijan, we ask you to respect your signature of the ceasefire.” Of course, the reasons of these incidents are political. The command is issued, in my opinion, the top political leader of Azerbaijan, the President. The command that the overall situation should be strained, and the tension is exercised in every section of the border, in one place they shoot directly at the civilians, in another place subversive activities are applied, depending on the location and the opportunity. Look, what has been changed in the world right now. Everything can be broken, in Ukraine, Crimea and the Middle East. Russia should be the guarantor of Armenia’s security, but in other places, Russia itself is occupying territories and mess up the situation. We appeal to the United States, the United States justifies the Israeli actions; we apply to Europe, Europe has mixed problems and different views. It turns out that Azerbaijan is trying to use this political situation for its own purposes.
A. A. – We apply to Russia, we apply to the United States and Europe. But why doesn’t Russia protect us?
A. S. – Our Foreign Affairs minister has not yet applied to anyone. He had made a statement, but not an application. Azerbaijanis know very well that if they start a full-scale war, there are two major issues, the one that the West should really be against it in every way, because it would suffer major loses, and the oil and gas supplies to Europe would be impaired. This is a major factor for them. The second factor is that no longer this would be a local war. Given the geopolitical significance of the region, it will be at least a regional war, in other words, a number of countries would be engaged.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
