“We do not understand under what conditions the positions are surrendered or partially taken back, or what the authorities are doing to mobilize the society. There are rumors that instead of arming the people of the villages in those areas to at least defend themselves, they have been disarmed. I do not see anything towards creating a militia,” said Arman Melikyan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Artsakh.
During the conversation in the Media center, Mr. Melikyan, taking into account the encroachments of the Azerbaijani side on different borders of Armenia, as well as the events that took place in Syunik, expressed an opinion that Armenia’s external security is endangered and the current government is not able to provide it.
“We do not know the condition of our army, we do not know whether our material losses during the war were restored or not, and in this situation we see that territories are being handed over step by step and the current authorities are not able to do anything in any direction. At the same time, loud diplomatic statements are being made, which have no legal consequences.” He thinks that it is pointless to refer to the Russia-Armenia allied relations or to be offended by international structures for not condemning. “Today Armenia is alone, without friends. Armenia is alone and is being demonstratively beaten with tacit consent. And the first culprit is ourselves, the political elite of the Republic of Armenia, and it has nothing to do with the ruling force-opposition. That political laziness has cost us dearly and will continue to do so.”
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According to Arman Melikyan, serious developments are expected in the South Caucasus. “Turkey is becoming the flag bearer of the Turkish world in the South Caucasus, and the two CSTO member states are an important part of that world.” He does not assess the Armenian-Russian relations in any way because they are not visible to him. In response to the question how to face external dangers, Mr. Melikyan expressed an opinion by internal consolidation. “Armenia needs to make efforts, but I do not see who can do it. If we solve our internal problems, we will solve our problems in the outside world. A core must be formed on a non-partisan basis with people who are professionals, and that group must develop proposals for internal solidarity, but time does not forgive and those paths are not visible.”
According to Mr. Melikyan, applying to the UN Security Council, the CSTO and other international partners will not help until the internal agenda in our country is clarified. “All these external appeals will be unanswered and unaddressed. Besides, I am not sure that the Republic of Armenia applied to those structures in accordance with the legal procedures.” According to him, in this case, the only thing that is effective is to distribute weapons to the population. “Today, the state is not able to fully ensure the security of the population. On the other hand, everywhere in Armenia has turned into the frontlines and people will at least be able to defend themselves.” Arman Melikyan considers rumors about demarcation to be blind, as he is convinced that a game of a completely different level is being played from a geopolitical point of view. “We need to make a proper analysis and understand what the Russians really want and what they are ready for, and for that we need an intimate conversation with the Russians. I do not know if we have that person or not. If the Russians have to leave the South Caucasus, then Armenia needs other guarantees.”
Lusine Budaghyan
