Interview

"Armenia and Azerbaijan, even if they reach a consensus, cannot dissolve the Minsk Group." Atanesyan

Radar Armenia's interlocutor is Vahram Atanesyan, a former member of the Central Committee of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh National Assembly.

- Armenia and the USA will sign a strategic partnership document today. Given Azerbaijan's aggressive rhetoric, how will this impact Armenia's security?

- It is time, or rather, it was long ago, for us to get rid of the complexity of regulating relations with neighbors under the auspices of any party. I also don't know what kind of "legacy" it will leave for the Trump administration.

Of course, such "structural agreements" give a certain impetus to regulating relations with Azerbaijan. However, future contracts, negotiations, and information-propaganda "shootouts" are significantly bilateral. Armenia's main problem is to have sufficient and necessary immunity with all its components.

- Donald Trump will take complete control of the country next Monday, January 20. In your opinion, are Azerbaijan's belligerent statements due to the change of power in the USA?

- No. I don't share the impression that Trump will come and attack Aliyev.

It was officially announced that Armenia is considering applying to the OSCE to dissolve the Minsk Group. However, the date before or after signing the peace treaty is not specified. Your opinion on this is interesting.

Even if Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a consensus on this issue, they cannot dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group. It is another thing if all the OSCE member states reach such an agreement. This will mean that they will achieve peace, stability, and the right of self-determination of the displaced people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Take responsibility.

- What issue does Azerbaijan solve by dissolving the Minsk Group? Why is Azerbaijan concerned about the existence of the NK if NK is entirely under its control and official Yerevan recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity?

- I have already answered that question. Azerbaijan should not be made a superstate, and it cannot dissolve the Minsk Group.

- Against the background of belligerent statements from Azerbaijan, it was also announced that the next meeting of the demarcation and demarcation commissions will occur. How do you interpret the threat of war in Azerbaijan, on the one hand, and the continuation of the border demarcation process on the other?

"Azerbaijan has ratified the charter of border liberation commissions. I assume that Aliyev proposes clarifying the border along the current contact line. That is the main problem."

Hayk Magoyan