“The April events show that we have issues to think about although the further military escalation was suspended with Russia’s influence. The Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation cost dearly for us,” – such a statement was made by the RANA faction MP Khosrov Harutyunyan during the joint session of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on relations with compatriots and Eurasian integration on CIS Affairs of the State Duma of the RF Federal Assembly held in Yerevan. Khosrov Harutyunyan at the same time also highlighted the role of the Armenian-Russian military-political cooperation in the context of regional stability. Moreover, he opines that not all opportunities are used for the rapprochement of this cooperation.
Khosrov Harutyunyan is convinced that the improvement of Russian-Turkish relations can also have a positive impact on the stability in the region. Director of the Institute of CIS countries, Konstantin Zatulin, does not agree with Khosrov Harutyunyan that the Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation cost dearly for Armenians. He opines that Armenian-Russian relations are subjected to experiments at times because we live in the presence of states being in conflict in the post-Soviet territory.
Russian political scientist noted it is not only the issue of Karabakh in the region but also the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict which was resolved in 2008 with the help of Russia, “Have we ever highlighted the importance of the relations between Armenia and Georgia on the ground of our relations with Armenia? We understand that Armenia should have good relations with Georgia at least for the fact that apart from Iran, Armenia is in blockade from all sides.”
Speaking of good relations with Azerbaijan, the political scientist said that they are intended to keep Azerbaijan away from the adventures in the South Caucasus, “A group of experts refute the opinion that “Sontsepyok” and “Smerch” acquired from Russia have played a major role in starting the war by Azerbaijan in April. The weapons acquired from Israel have a bigger role there. I do not want to expand on this topic but it is obvious that if Russia does not sell weapons to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan will obtain another source to acquire it.” The political scientist assures that Russia has drawn conclusions from the April events and realizes that Armenia needs to be armed. He brings the example of rendering “Iskander” missiles to Armenia.
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Nelly GRIGORYAN
