No need to take Russia’s “baits” too seriously
Russia’s “sworn enemies” are now in the dire situation. To be consistent, they should justify the downing of Russian “Su-24” aircraft on November 24 by the Turkish Air Force, as well as the killing of the Russian pilot by pro-Turkish militant. No matter how much an Armenian politician or a commentator is filled with hatred towards Russia, he seems hardly be able to completely agree with the interpretation of the situation, which Erdoğan is giving.
Clearly, Russia is interested in “the fight against global terrorism” as much as the United States or France; each of them pursues its own interests. In particular, Russia with its military activities in Syria a/ seeks a counter game in Ukraine after its, to put it mildly, unsuccessful operations, b/ wants to be reestablished as a worldwide power, c/ sought to maintain its sole ally Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the Middle East, d/ intends to strengthen its military presence in the Mediterranean Sea. These are Russia’s goals. But it does not mean that Obama and Erdoğan should be introduced as “idealists”, who are concerned about exclusive fair and democratic world order. They have their own goals and just like Russia are ready to override everyone for these goals, including us, Armenia.
What is our Armenia’s interest here? I think our interest is this Russia-Turkey conflict to be solved a day before. Now, various anti-Turkish moves are talked about in Russia. For example, an “unverified” information is put into circulation that allegedly the Kremlin is discussing the possibility of annulling the Kars and Moscow treaties. First of all, it is clear that it is only one of the baits (not the most important one), which Moscow give for bargaining with Turkey, and in reality, the possibility of such developments almost equals to zero. Secondly, even if we theoretically assume for such a thing to happen, it will mean that Russia has declared a war on Turkey. Incidentally, there will be an announcement for war (this time from Turkey) if this country “closes” the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, which is also put into circulation as a response move. Regardless of the outcome of this Russo-Turkish war, we, like during the WW I, will gain nothing from it.
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Zhirinovsky’s, Navalny’s and Mironov’s “baits” have the same goal. They certainly do not want to liberate Western Armenia, nor to pass a law on criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Simply, prior to negotiating, the parties are showing the entire arsenal at their disposal to each other for having a more favorable position.
And in that sense, everything is “counted”. The C-400 multiple-rocket system deployed recently by Russia in the “Hmeymim” airbase, Syria, which can hit the aerial targets of Turkey, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, hundreds of kilometers in depth, is a more powerful argument than the massacre of Armenians that took place 100 years ago. The protestation of Turkish officials that they will help Azerbaijan to “liberate” Karabakh is more realistic than Erdoğan’s “Ottoman” ambitions. But when the parties are collecting a “bundle” of arguments, both big and small “pieces” pop up. The Karabakh issue is quite a “big piece” here, Kars treaty is a “small piece” no matter the “promise of its cancellation” fondles our national self-esteem.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN,
Aravot Daily
