Sergey Lavov visited Baku, thus “balancing” his visit to Yerevan two weeks ago. However, his most interesting statement here was not about the Karabakh conflict, but about increasing the number of Russian schools in Armenia “at the request of Armenian friends.” In Baku, on the contrary, the Russian Foreign Minister’s thoughts on the Artsakh issue were remarkable. The topic of the OSCE Minsk Group can be singled out from them.
First, Lavrov claims in Baku that “the situation has changed” since the war, and that the OSCE Minsk Group settlement plans are a thing of the past. This means that Russia considers the consequences of a military solution acceptable, and now it remains to “legitimize” the situation that Azerbaijan got as a result of the 2020 war, no longer taking into account the projects that have been developed by the Co-Chairs for decades through the efforts of the parties. Let me remind you that in all these programs there was the concept of “Nagorno-Karabakh” and one way or another the issue of Artsakh’s status and the right to self-determination is touched upon.
If this approach is applied consistently, a “new situation” can be created by aggression and war crimes. For example, if Russia can conquer all of Ukraine, that country must accept that “status quo” and dissolve itself. In that case, no diplomacy is needed, all issues are resolved by force, weapons. Such an approach contradicts Russia’s position, which was stated earlier in the Putin-Pashinyan 30-point statement of April 19, one of which emphasizes the role of the Minsk Group.
Lavrov stated in Baku that the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group had ceased on the initiative of the West since the start of hostilities in Ukraine. However, in an interview with RFE / RL a few days ago, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said that her country is ready to cooperate with Russia within the framework of the Minsk Group. The West, represented by the United States, has no initiative to stop the Minsk Group. Maybe the “initiative” comes from Russia?
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And finally, Lavrov never used the term “Nagorno-Karabakh” in Baku.
Aram Abrahamyan
