One of the superpowers is engaged in the task of solving the Karabakh problem “by force”
Until Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in Baku that the “two parties to the conflict are more than ever closer to the prospect of success” on Karabakh settlement issue, Serzh Sargsyan made a remarkable message on Karabakh settlement.
The people of Nagorno Karabakh may live a secure life exclusively outside the borders of Azerbaijan, said Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with Al Mayadeen TV channel, adding, – “No one doubts now that if Karabakh by a bad joke at least one day appears in Azerbaijan’s territory, no Armenians will be left in Karabakh. So, most importantly that Nagorno Karabakh is outside Azerbaijan’s territory, this is important.” He stressed that even if the whole world tries to convince, the people of Karabakh would never agree to live in Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, “Certainly, I am not talking about forceful integration for any superpower, even any international organization, can solve this problem by force, what I mean is that it is possible to eliminate the people of Karabakh, any type of violence can be applied, but to convince to live in the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is impossible.” S. Sargsyan assured that the people of Karabakh will eventually be the final decision-maker on the status based on the principle of free expression of will and the right to self-determination, and Azerbaijan will have to respect this decision.
Official Yerevan argues that Azerbaijan should recognize the right to self-determination and the exercise of this right by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the start of the Karabakh settlement package should be given by Azerbaijan with the recognition of Karabakh. Meanwhile, official Baku is talking about a phased settlement of the conflict and connects the change in status quo with “liberation of the occupied territories.”
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Sargsyan’s stance is not new for any Armenian. The question is why S. Sargsyan all of a sudden decided to remind the position of the Armenian side, moreover with emphasis addressed to “any superpower” that is able to solve the Karabakh conflict “by force”. The remark, as they say, is more than transparent. One of the superpowers surely is engaged in the task of solving the Karabakh problem “by force”, and it is clear to everyone which of the superpowers we are talking about.
No matter how official Yerevan denies the existence of “Lavrov’s plan”, the statements of official Yerevan and Baku in the recent period, as well as Moscow’s estimates, are enough to claim that Moscow, however, has a “plan” and is consistently moving ahead. This “plan” perhaps existed prior to the April four-day war, simply, now the Kremlin uninterruptedly emphasizing the necessity of “urgent” solution of the Karabakh conflict is trying to show how unacceptable is the status quo.
Moreover, without disclosing the details, Lavrov argues in Baku that the two parties to conflict are more than ever closer to the prospect of success, this is in the case when the ideas included in the OSCE Minsk Group official statements regarding the expansion of Kasprzyk’s office and the investigation of border incidents, were not practiced. Accordingly, what make Moscow and Baku so happy? Which are the “positive motives” of Lavrov’s visit for Azerbaijan?
In fact, it should be stated that after the four-day war in April, to make Baku’s claims “audible”, Moscow has assumed a specific role although it is presented and displayed as an impartial mediator’s role, however, it is clear that it is an aspiration to assume the role of a “manager” in the settlement process.
The emphases in the interview with “Al Mayadeen” TV channel contains concern and anxiety in Serzh Sargsyan’s speech, which he did not want to hide aiming to somehow disclose the expectations, which one of the superpowers currently has from the Armenian side. It is no coincidence also that the Russian pro-Azerbaijani officials have re-intensified again in recent days, with their known estimates. While Lavrov was in Baku, Sergey Markov, the RF president’s proxy acting with pro-Azerbaijani statements, also representative of the Russian Public Chamber, predicted a speedy and serious breakthrough in Karabakh conflict settlement, naturally, presenting Baku’s known prerequisite-demands on the way to its implementation.
Another pro-Putin Russian politician, leader of the Russian Liberal-Democratic Party, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, is always in the right place at the right time. He has also found out how the Kurdish and Armenian issues should be solved: if Turkey and Russia unite the trade, economic and military efforts. In this context, according to Zhirinovsky, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem will be solved, “Let the Kremlin solve, it, let our president solve it. A specific status can be found for Nagorno Karabakh so that both Armenians and Azerbaijanis are satisfied.” Many people, of course, do not take the statements of these people serious even in Russia but even there, everyone knows when and for what these people speak.
EMMA GABRIELYAN
“Aravot”
14.07.2016
