Political scientist Stepan Safaryan, in an interview with Aravot.am, interpreted the statement of the co-chair of the Inter-parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the National Assembly of Armenia and the Russian Federal Assembly, Nikolay Ryzhkov, saying that “all countries sell weapons, so what? This does not mean that Russia specially sells for Karabakh to be in a war.”
This is how Ryzhkov described the fact of selling weapons to Azerbaijan by Russia. Stepan Safaryan, in an interview with us, first asked a question, “Why then are they buying weapons? Ryzhkov should be able to interpret whether Aliyev is buying this weapon for keeping in the museum or directing against the positions of Armenia and Artsakh… Then why are you selling it? And when you are selling what is its consequence, against whom will it be used? Against Iran, Kazakhstan?” – he continued, – “It is not possible to believe similar arguments of the Russian side. Russia must be oriented. We have no obligation to understand and accept any action against our security normal, be it by our enemy or friend. If our friend accepts our words hostile until now, and those who raise these issues are qualified as “anti-Russians”, I’m sorry, then Russia has a problem with itself rather than with those who encourage anti-Russian sentiments and others.”
Styopa Safaryan also touched upon Ryzhkov’s view expressed on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement. Note that earlier Lavrov had said, “Turkey can play a positive role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.” Ryzhkov had mentioned, “I think Lavrov has reason to say so … Turkey has a great influence on Azerbaijan. I think that by saying this Lavrov meant that in the case of a particular desire Azerbaijan can solve the issue with Turkey only in that way.”
As described by Styopa Safaryan, “Lavrov certainly knows why he does not want to offend the Turkish counterparts who say that they should play the main role. Ankara has announced that Russia shares the latest proposals with Turkey on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, and if Baku agrees to any solution then Ankara will support it.” According to our interlocutor, Ryzhkov cited the following, “Ankara is acting not with a new role or imposes concessions on us but simply says, “If Baku agrees I will agree too.” But sorry, this is not the case but a plan that is against the interests of Armenia and Artsakh,” concluded the political scientist.
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Luiza SUKIASYAN
