As it is known, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the online format of the second summit, “For Democracy,” and delivered a speech. At the end of the plenary session, the countries participating in the meeting signed a declaration, to which Armenia, among 12 other countries, joined with a reservation. The reservation referred explicitly to the following paragraph: “We demand that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine along the internationally recognized borders and call for a cessation of hostilities.” According to Armenia’s position, “This paragraph does not comprehensively reflect all conflicts and crises and does not address the fact of Azerbaijan’s aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and the occupation of certain parts of the sovereign territory of Armenia.”
In this regard, in a conversation with Aravot.am, MP of CC faction Vigen Khachatryan said we are not defending and supporting Russia with this reservation. Still, we say we will abstain if they treat us selectively and do not mention Azerbaijani aggression. “Russia has nothing to do there. It was also necessary to mention the aggression of Azerbaijan, which occupied a part of the sovereign territory of Armenia. The concrete justification is this, but whoever has what beliefs under it will see it; isn’t it clear? Under it, whoever has any inclination, whom he wants to like or dislike, begins to express himself. Those who are pro-Russian say something else, and those who are pro-European say something else; we have also said that we are neither pro-Russian nor pro-European; we serve the interests of Armenia. It is challenging to be convinced of this because there has not been such a policy to serve interests for years, and people are not used to it. The majority still does not understand that there is an interest of Armenia, which the government should serve, and that the interest of Armenia should not be subordinated to the interests of this or that state; it cannot be done. They have done it for years.”
According to Vigen Khachatryan, for centuries, we have not built our plans based on our abilities and have connected them with this or that force, which always brings disappointment and puts us in front of a broken trough. “We must build our plans based on our capabilities, develop plans. We are not used to such behavior. That is why, when the government connects the responsible problems it faces with this or that state, that government starts to abuse, systematic corruption flourishes, it takes over because it is not responsible.” According to the deputy, how we will face the challenges with our abilities is debatable, but we should not think about who will like or dislike our move but take steps that are in our interests. “Now it is in our interests, and we are speaking out: Azerbaijan is an aggressor; it must be evaluated. One cannot be called an aggressor and ignore the other because there is oil or gas there.”
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Regarding Russia, Vigen Khachatryan said Russia does not perceive RA as a sovereign state. “For dozens of years, they have said that our future is decided with them, now for five years, Armenia says: thank you, let us decide what we are capable of, it is not used to it, Russia is jealous, it is irritated but will gradually understand that Armenia is a separate state and is its ally, something that we do not see from its side as an ally very often. Russia is now more of an ally of Azerbaijan than of us. What should we do? That way is convenient for Russia. Should we not say or explain?”
Vigen Khachatryan responded: “If you destroy relations with Russia, who is our only strategic ally, who else should you have good relations with?” “We don’t want to have bad relations with Russia; we don’t want to be Russia’s hostage. We don’t want Russia to see Armenia as a small coin to solve its interests, conceding Armenia’s interests to one degree or another. We are interested in having normal relations with the Russian Federation, but Russia is spoiling the relations. We have not failed any of our commitments towards Russia, and it has failed many commitments in the truest sense of the word. Maybe it can’t and doesn’t want to – that’s its problem. The fact is that it is not fulfilling its obligations as an ally.
Moreover, it does not declare that I no longer have such an obligation. That also solves it whenever I say: I’m sorry, I can’t condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression. It’s easy to say, don’t count on me. Russia has often made it clear that it is not interested; some people continue to think that Russia can bring them to power and that they serve the interests of Russia. I don’t think that Russia is asking them for that. People want to use it to seize power, not to solve these issues effectively, isn’t it clear? They see Russia as a roof, thinking that these authorities are not beneficial to Russia; they want to change. But Russia should know that it does not change the government in Armenia; the people decide it. It is difficult for Russia to put up with it, I understand. They have decided for tens of years and will not now.”
When we conveyed that Russia at least gives us weapons, he countered. “Doesn’t give weapons; it’s business, and as much as gives us, it gives 20 as much to Azerbaijan. We did not see Russia’s weapons being put into action. We have a joint air defense agreement with Russia, but that defense system did not work. When Azerbaijan is preparing for an obvious genocide in Artsakh, then the Russian Foreign Minister declares that it is possible to allow the people of Artsakh to speak and learn Armenian and assumes that they are the Serbs of Kosovo; what else is needed to understand that the people of Karabakh is of little concern to Russia. It is interested in the territory, not the person.”
When we said that they are blaming you for this, that the authorities made Russia less interested in Karabakh, your policy is the reason, Vigen Khachatryan answered. “They are not accusing us; they are just trying to please Russia. They do not understand that the bearer of power has become the RA citizen who will decide what the government will be like in every election. They constantly want to take us to the field to serve Russia. It won’t happen, and it’s not anti-Russian. It is the policy arising from the interests of the RA people. Now, instead of saying, “It’s good that Armenia has made a reservation, once again emphasizing Azerbaijan’s criminal policy, they welcome it… We have joined the Rome Statute, which allows criminal proceedings to be initiated against Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership as a war criminal.
Criminals, because there are many reasons, they are afraid that Putin will be offended. I don’t understand. Are we serving Putin? That is Putin’s problem; he will be offended, or else, maybe Putin appreciated the atrocities of Azerbaijan. In front of our eyes, they committed the last barbarism toward the soldiers; they shot the prisoners; what can I say… did Russia raise its voice? Did that column with an Armenian surname, a subject of Russia, say a word to Russia? Wasn’t Russia obliged to assess as if it were an ally? It didn’t. What shall we say to that? Let’s think, not say anything because they will be offended. If we don’t say, they will be more brazen.”
He answered that we were interested in whether you would vote for the Rome Statute. “Armenia decided to join the Rome Statute in 1998; there was simply a problem with the existing constitution; otherwise, we would have joined long ago. Where were those fake patriots in 1998?
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
