21:29 on September 26, 2023
Is Armenia a tasty enough morsel for the West to make a strong case for it, knowing the Russian influence in the country? Artis Pabriks, director of the think tank “Northern European Policy Center”, Minister of Defense (2019-2022; 2010-2014), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-2007) expressed his opinion on this in the TV24 foreign policy program “Globuss”.
“I admit that the Armenian society is quite divided internally. Of course, I’m not the biggest expert on Armenia’s internal politics, but I think it’s pretty divided internally. But I do not think that it is within the power of Russia to achieve a similar scenario in Armenia as in Belarus, because here Russia does not have such physical capabilities. There is no direct border with Armenia, the military possibilities are limited,” says Pabriks.
“Until these big changes that happened in recent years in Armenia… Armenia was a very confident satellite of Russia, it would be difficult to become an even bigger satellite. At this point, I thought, that turn would just slowly go away. For Russia to achieve the same satellite or annexation of Armenia as in the case of Belarus, I think it would be very difficult for Moscow,” he says.
“Of course, if they would use all their abilities, which are in the financial sector, both in the Armenian diaspora, in Armenia and elsewhere, then maybe. At the same time, I hope, the Armenian society should also understand in the long term that they really have no other alternative. What is currently being offered with American support and with the generosity, I hope, of Azerbaijan, is, I think, the best that Armenia can wish for in this case, because on the contrary it is further isolation, the inability to face any other conflicts in the region with Azerbaijan and , possibly with Turkey. Therefore, there are no other pragmatic options for Armenia and this is by no means the worst option,” concludes Pabriks.
The “Globuss” project is financed by the Media Support Fund from the funds of the Latvian state budget. AS “TV Latvija” is responsible for the content of the program “Globuss”.
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2023-09-26 18:38:59
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