The politologist on Zhirinovsky’s statement
“I have understood long ago that there is no need to pay serious attention to Zhirinovsky’s statements, since they have never expressed the official position of the Russian state and usually Zhirinovsky is working towards meeting interests of the society,” during the talks with Aravot said politologist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan referring to the interview of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.
Let’s remind that in the interview the Russian politician said, “Well, how to solve the Karabakh conflict? If Karabakh is given back to Azerbaijan, Armenians will be offended. If the current status quo is recognized you will be offended. I suggest a third option – to declare Karabakh as a Moscow subordinate. Let Russia ensure in this zone the security of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, free movement of people, restore the economy. This can be tried as an interim option.” Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan believes that Zhirinovsky has expressed only his own opinion about the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, Artsakh conflicts advising not pay great attention. “Especially when such good proposals of handing over Karabakh to Russia are voiced. This is more due to Russian imperialism than their public policy.”
The politologist wants to draw attention to recent statement of Serzh Sargsyan, where the President said that the Armenian-Russian relations are at a quite high level, are quite promising and “as a matter of fact very important for the Russian president.” “I do not see any serious problems in the relations between the two countries, which may change the situation in the region, in the developments that were in place to date. Of course, there is discontent, particularly the Armenian side is demanding from Russia to stop arms sales to Azerbaijan. And I think that this issue will be one of the links during the upcoming meetings, – he says, referring to the upcoming April meeting between the presidents of Russia and Armenia, – The main issues will be the security problem in the South Caucasus and also arms sales to Azerbaijan by Russia.
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It is obvious and clear that after the Ukrainian events the situation has changed in the region and there is a need to respond to the situation. This opens up opportunities for us, putting the interest of Armenian states in the context of regional interest of the great powers not only for Russia but also for the US, who, as we know, during this historical period, are also dealing with the planning of their future policy in the South Caucasus.”
To Aravot’s observation that the Armenian society notices manifestations of Russia pleasing Azerbaijan through various Russian political and public figures. To Zhirinovsky’s statements one should add also praising of Azerbaijan by the Russian journalist, Dmitry Kiselyov the politologist said, “I see the oratory, but I am sure it is not a public policy and the mere fact that the President of the Russian Federation will be in Yerevan on April 24 to commemorate with us 1.5 million victims of the genocide, to my belief, is the most expressive illustration of the current high level of Armenian-Russian relations. The remaining is the result of speculations and perhaps erroneous assumptions.”
HRIPSIME HOVHANNISYAN
