Information and analytical resource VERELQ published on August 31 an article by Ruben Margaryan under the heading “Somersault Pashinyan”, dedicated to the problems of Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of the emerging humanitarian catastrophe there.
Maria Zakharova clearly read from a piece of paper: “The current situation in the Lachin corridor was the result of the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia as part of the territory of Azerbaijan. This was recorded following the results of the summits with the participation of the leaders of the two countries under the auspices of the European Union in October 2022, in May 2023… We see the task of the contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, to provide all possible assistance on earth in ensuring the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians, including in the context of a direct dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert.”
The official speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in fact, directly accused Nikol Pashinyan in the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh – ed.)saying that the situation in the Lachin corridor (linking the region with Armenia – ed.) there is a consequence of the recognition of Artsakh by the Prime Minister of Armenia as part of Azerbaijan. Not “willingness to admit”, as the ruling team is now trying to edit its leader, but, alas, recognition.
Yerevan, however, does not accept such logic from Moscow. The position of official Yerevan is that the statements of Pashinyan mentioned by Zakharova do not in any way affect the Trilateral Statement of the Leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia dated November 9, 2020, according to which the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RMC) should ensure the unimpeded operation of the Lachin corridor connecting Artsakh with Armenia . This is the logic of official Yerevan.
Consider the logic of Moscow. On November 9, 2020, at the end of the 44-day war, the already mentioned Trilateral Statement was adopted, in which nothing is said about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. That is, we can say that the Trilateral Statement was adopted in the context of the latest proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship represented by the three permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, the United States, France. These latest proposals provided for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the buffer territories around Artsakh, the deployment of peacekeepers, and the status issue was left for an indefinite time, “for later.” The Lachin corridor remained behind Artsakh. Refugee issues should have been resolved, and so on… The trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, being unfavorable for the Armenian side in many factors and details, in general, by and large, did not contradict the main approaches of the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. And, including this, it fully justified the presence in the conflict zone of the peacekeeping contingent of the co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group.
What happens next? Then the war in Ukraine starts and the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group actually falls apart. De jure it is, de facto it is not, as the conflict between Russia and the West is growing.
Under these conditions, knowing full well that the main guarantor of the security of Artsakh, due to the current situation, is the RMC, Pashinyan in Prague, with the mediation of Western mediators, declares that he and Aliyev have reached an agreement to recognize the territorial integrity of each other and, thus, Yerevan recognizes Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan. Repeated by Pashinyan more than once after Prague.
That is, in fact, in Prague, the main issue was resolved, because of which the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict actually flared up. It was resolved without the knowledge of Russia, whose peacekeepers ensured and continue to ensure the security of Artsakh. Such is Pashinyan’s somersault.
Yerevan and Baku came to such a new agreement, and now all the points of the “old” agreement must be viewed precisely through the prism of Prague. Including the powers of the Russian peacekeepers, which were interpreted differently by Baku and Yerevan even before the Prague agreements between Aliyev and Pashinyan.
In the context of the agreements in Prague, can RMK take steps against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? Do not allow the installation of a checkpoint? Theoretically, yes, but this would mean that Russia does not recognize the rights of Baku, arising from the principle of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which, including Artsakh, is recognized by Armenia, a subject of international law and a party to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is no secret to anyone.
No, you can understand Pashinyan. It is always a pleasure to drag chestnuts out of the fire with someone else’s hands. But that’s just not always someone else’s hands are ready to do it for you. Especially when the problems themselves are through the roof.
We believe Pashinyan understood everything. But he expected to receive the support of the West in gratitude for the humiliation of Russia. He is receiving it now. True, this support does not reach Artsakh. Because a friendly pat on the shoulder and cheer up Pashinyan is always welcome. The West is not greedy for compliments. But to climb into the fire with your hands … Well, no, of course.
2023-08-31 06:25:00
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