“Our foreign minister’s conduct looks very strange to me.” “Russia can intimidate the whole world, saying, I will hit on your face and break it, so what?” said the Head of “Modus Vivendi” Analytical Center, Ara Papian, today at the “Analitic” club, referring to the RF led policy. He criticized Russia for not behaving as a strategic ally and sells weapons to our opponent in the conflict zone, which incited the citizens of Armenia against Russia. To our observation that Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said that Russia has its own business interests, Ara Papian responded, “I interpret this statement as unclear and illogical. First, Russia has its own business, let it defend its business interests rather than the foreign minister. The Minister’s task is to see the violations that are available: violation of federal relations, operations against the conduct of the Bishkek cease-fire guarantee, there are numerous violations. What does it mean business interests? I also have a business interest to go to Moscow to sell drugs. What, should they say that Papyan has business interests, let him sell it?
Selling weapons in the conflict zone is a violation of international norms. But, don’t the other countries have business interests that they do not sell? Our foreign minister’s conduct looks very strange to me.” As for the Republicans excuses that Russia gives us weapons on favorable terms – factory prices, Ara Papyan said, “Russia is obligated to give us on favorable terms, even free of charge because it is our ally. The US gives Israel 4 billion dollars per year air defense measures for free. If Russia were not our ally but Azerbaijan’s ally, there was no problem. But it is our ally.” To our question of whether at this moment, Russia has an interest to increase the border tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, because there is an opinion that Russia had already 2 wars and is not willing to have the 3rd war, Ara Papyan replied, “Russia has some interest. In doing so, it does a favor to Azerbaijan, trying to create a better relationship and tempt towards the EaEU. Russia is trying somehow to restore the Soviet Union. Can Russia become a superpower? No. The only possibility to assume the role of a superpower is the military conflicts.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
