As is known, Azerbaijan is not a member of the EAEU. But Ilham Aliyev participated in the summit of the Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow. That fact calls into question the meaning of being a member of such an organization. Economic, political, and military, Azerbaijan has better relations with Russia, Belarus, and Central Asian countries than EAEU and CSTO member Armenia. It does not mean that our country should leave those unions a day earlier, worsening relations with Russia and not having any serious alternative. But I would not place any serious hopes on those structures.
The EAEU summit is a platform that Azerbaijan used in this case to present the demand for the Zangezur Corridor. The turn of that “corridor” has come because Pashinyan has already fulfilled the rest of Azerbaijan’s needs, which were also not derived from the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020.
Aliyev speaks with the Prime Minister of Armenia from the winner’s position. And, of course, he did not hesitate to brazenly lie about the blockade of Artsakh when Pashinyan raised the issue during the summit. The implication of the “arguments” of the President of Azerbaijan is clear: do I accept that 86, 6 thousand square kilometers are mine? Well, then, I will do what I want in that area.
Aliyev made another significant emphasis, saying that Russia welcomes the “Zangezur Corridor” demand. In my view, in this case, the president of Azerbaijan is not lying. Russia needs that corridor in the framework of its trade with Turkey.
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Although Putin says that the problem is only in terminology, whether to call it a “corridor” or something else, here, I think, the problem is clear for everyone: is Pashinyan ready along with Artsakh and over seven villages of Armenia hand to another country the road passing through the territory of Armenia? In my impression, if it will help him to keep the power for some more time, he will do it.
Aram Abrahamyan
