Radar Armenia's interlocutor is Tigran Khzmalyan, the leader of the European Party.
- Russian presidential spokesman Peskov touched upon the unblocking of the Zangezur road and said that it is the sovereign matter of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also emphasized Russia's interest and readiness to assist in the peace treaty negotiations. How to understand this comment?
This was preceded by Aliyev's speech, from which it became clear that he does not agree with either the signing of the peace treaty or the American proposal to unblock the roads. On the other hand, tensions remain between Moscow and Baku.
- Discussing Russia's proposal to become more active in the region is like discussing in a meeting of mice whether this time the cheese in the trap will not trap us and destroy us. In the last decade, as 100 years ago, we have been the victim of Russia's anti-Armenian strategy, and it would not be brilliant to put our heads under it again. Between 2010 and 2012, Russia developed a plan of rapprochement with Azerbaijan and Turkey. We saw its disastrous consequences in 2016, during the 2020 war, and especially with the Armenian exodus from Artsakh. What new loss is needed to convince us? Russia had hoped that in return for the assistance, Azerbaijan would compensate and receive the Zangezur corridor. However, we see that Azerbaijan and Turkey, together, deceived Moscow, and now they are trying to secure that road without the Russians.
As for the American proposal, there is no such thing; it is a false claim. There is no official statement, except for Trump posting Aliyev's "thank-you" speech on his social page. I can also have a company provide road services, and I can delegate such an issue. Therefore, it is not serious to discuss something that concerns the fate of the state. However, I hope that the US will not assume a mediatory role.
- What alternative solutions do you see?
- The existence of the north-south road is more profitable for us; for the reconstruction of one of its sections, the Syunik-Qajaran road, the European Bank is going to invest 440 million dollars, half a billion, on August 1. This is a highly profitable investment, as it offers the opportunity to connect Europe with India, the Arab countries, and China via Iranian roads. As a representative of the European Party, I insist that it is not in the interests of Armenia to open the Syunik road, which, of course, would be good, but the north-south route, which is comparatively more critical and has irreplaceable significance for Armenia. Europe appreciated its importance years ago, when it provided a huge loan of one billion for this road, but which the previous government squandered and plundered very successfully.
- If the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations are crowned with success, whether bilaterally or by some Western center, how will Moscow's jealousy manifest itself against us?
- Of course, there will be threats. The very existence of the Russian Federation is already a threat to its neighbors. There is no country with which it does not have problems, from Estonia to Georgia and Kazakhstan. Regarding Armenia, it is sufficient to note that when Russia entered our country in 1828, it replaced the name Armenia with that of the Erivan Governorate. Unfortunately, Armenia remains in complete dependence, both economically and politically, in areas such as energy, gas, railways, political parties, and the media. This is an unprecedented, shameful thing. In recent years, unfortunately, there has been no significant change in this direction. Everything is being done very late, hastily, and disorganized.
Unlike us, Azerbaijan was able to establish a profitable policy with the Russian Federation and has reached a point where the Russian Federation has almost no leverage to influence it; only the Azerbaijani Diaspora can play a role, and even a very small one.
Tamara Ghazaryan
