Azerbaijani ex-minister predicts more Russian pressure on Armenia

POLITICS  25 May 2022 - 09:35

Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov has predicted that Moscow may increase pressure on Armenia if the latter takes a further step toward the West.

In his opinion, because of the current desperate situation in the country, Armenia wants to get closer to the West, Report quotes Zulfugarov as saying.

"The Kremlin understands this. It is likely that Russia's pressure may increase if Armenia takes another step towards the West. But it should also be taken into account that now Russia itself is in a crisis situation. Our northern neighbour is gradually withdrawing from the region. Armenia doesn't bother her that much. In short, the current situation is very complicated, and it is difficult to give an unambiguous forecast," he said.

Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia is in a desperate situation. Yerevan needs financial assistance like air and water. Currently, the government of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan can receive this financial assistance only from the European Union, he said.

 The ex-minister believes that the main problems were not solved either in Brussels or in Moscow.

"Nikol Pashinyan said that he would continue his policy towards Karabakh on new terms. But in this case, we can say that the war is not over yet, because Azerbaijan will not agree with this in any way," Zulfugarov noted.

On May 22, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met EU Council President Charles Michel and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels, Belgium. An agreement was reached on the opening of the Zangazur corridor. 

Zulfugarov stressed that the main issue is the restoration of this road: "The most important issue is the rules under which the Zangazur corridor will operate."

Touching on the fact that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev informed his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the Brussels meeting, the ex-minister described the coordinated activities as the main requirement of the Shusha Declaration signed by the two leaders.

Caliber.Az