RUBEN MEHRABIAN. "RUSSIA ITSELF HAS PROVOKED THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT."
November 14 2013
On November 22, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan made an
official visit to Russia. There are analyses that much depends on this
visit, and, especially, there are predictions that as Turkey had asked
the Swiss authorities to facilitate in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, it will also remind the Russian authorities about their
own good 'requirements' regarding Nagorno-Karabakh issue. And, Turkey
has a lot to expect from Russia on this issue. Aravot.am asked Ruben
Mehrabyan, the expert of "Center for Political and International
Studies", what to expect from Russia. He answered, "In any case,
whoever offers Russia, Russia interests proceeds from the perception
of their neighborhood and from the image on their role in RF.
Consequently, I do not think that something is changed here. RF has
provoked the Karabakh conflict to be able to maintain its influence in
the region. RF will go for the settlement of the conflict only when
the settlement will lead to further enhancement of RF's impact and
role. Otherwise, it will not go for settlement." To the question in
what case Russia's role will further increase, Mr. Mehrabyan responded
as follows, "I imagine as follows that the international peacekeepers
in Nagorno-Karabakh will be Russians, and also, Azerbaijan will be
in the orbit of Russian, although the impact of Russia on Azerbaijan
is already much, however, it does not decide the policy of Azerbaijan.
But, in this regional strategy, Armenia has become a tool and a
support for Russia." To the question whether the reason is more in
shortcomings available in the foreign policy of Armenia, or such
disposition of state-of-affairs, Mehrabyan answered as follows,
"Foreign policy is the continuation of the internal one, and, in
general, result of political immaturity of authorities, lack of sense
of statehood, greediness, and avidity." Rumors are circulated that
Turkey, on the other hand, has a far-reaching desires to regulate
Armenian-Turkish relations by 2015, but only if Armenia "gets out of
the occupied territories." We asked whether rapid development and
outcome of events is possible, Mr. Mehrabyan said, "I do not think
that it is easily soluble matter and will lead to rapid change. As
for Turkey's role, it is practicing quite non-constructive policy in
the region, and somewhere even under its own inertia, which has been
formed back in 1990s. Turkey has closed not only the Armenian-Turkish,
but also Armenian-NATO border in exchange for the Russian base. I do
not think that it is in the interests of Turkey."
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/11/14/162542/
November 14 2013
On November 22, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan made an
official visit to Russia. There are analyses that much depends on this
visit, and, especially, there are predictions that as Turkey had asked
the Swiss authorities to facilitate in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, it will also remind the Russian authorities about their
own good 'requirements' regarding Nagorno-Karabakh issue. And, Turkey
has a lot to expect from Russia on this issue. Aravot.am asked Ruben
Mehrabyan, the expert of "Center for Political and International
Studies", what to expect from Russia. He answered, "In any case,
whoever offers Russia, Russia interests proceeds from the perception
of their neighborhood and from the image on their role in RF.
Consequently, I do not think that something is changed here. RF has
provoked the Karabakh conflict to be able to maintain its influence in
the region. RF will go for the settlement of the conflict only when
the settlement will lead to further enhancement of RF's impact and
role. Otherwise, it will not go for settlement." To the question in
what case Russia's role will further increase, Mr. Mehrabyan responded
as follows, "I imagine as follows that the international peacekeepers
in Nagorno-Karabakh will be Russians, and also, Azerbaijan will be
in the orbit of Russian, although the impact of Russia on Azerbaijan
is already much, however, it does not decide the policy of Azerbaijan.
But, in this regional strategy, Armenia has become a tool and a
support for Russia." To the question whether the reason is more in
shortcomings available in the foreign policy of Armenia, or such
disposition of state-of-affairs, Mehrabyan answered as follows,
"Foreign policy is the continuation of the internal one, and, in
general, result of political immaturity of authorities, lack of sense
of statehood, greediness, and avidity." Rumors are circulated that
Turkey, on the other hand, has a far-reaching desires to regulate
Armenian-Turkish relations by 2015, but only if Armenia "gets out of
the occupied territories." We asked whether rapid development and
outcome of events is possible, Mr. Mehrabyan said, "I do not think
that it is easily soluble matter and will lead to rapid change. As
for Turkey's role, it is practicing quite non-constructive policy in
the region, and somewhere even under its own inertia, which has been
formed back in 1990s. Turkey has closed not only the Armenian-Turkish,
but also Armenian-NATO border in exchange for the Russian base. I do
not think that it is in the interests of Turkey."
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/11/14/162542/