Armenia has gone wrong way, Russian expert says Caliber.Az interview with Alexander Kobrinsky

Caliber.Az had a conversation with Alexander Kobrinsky, Doctor of History, Director of the Russian Agency for Ethnic and National Strategies.

- As you know, after the round of negotiations in Washington a meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia is expected in Moscow. What are your expectations from the Moscow meeting amid the ongoing negotiations between Bayramov and Mirzoyan in the US track?

- In my opinion, the main goal of the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be to work out concrete approaches to the drafting of the very text of the peace treaty. This is the main condition for any negotiations, regardless of where the parties to the conflict meet. Therefore, it is important that politics take a back seat, giving way to a sober calculation and a common sense understanding that both republics are equally interested in the normalisation of relations.

- So this approach may eventually lead to peace between Baku and Yerevan.

- I believe that a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan is a vital necessity for both countries. Unfortunately, Armenia has gone the wrong way by inviting the powers that are not interested at all in peace, but in the destabiliation of the region. I am referring to the destructive forces that in every way oppose the resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, which are now quite active and are likely to have a serious impact on Armenia in the first place. This is mainly due to the fact that NATO countries and the states of the collective West are aimed at fomenting another conflict in the Caucasus region. Accordingly, as long as they are in the region, it will not be possible to resolve the conflict situation. The West will not allow the complete normalisation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Firstly, to keep the hotbed of tension in the region, and secondly, to prevent Russia from building a land corridor towards Iran. Nevertheless, I admit that it is possible to sign a comprehensive peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia if certain external forces are excluded from the negotiation process. At the same time, I do not rule out that there is some kind of arrangements between Pashinyan and the US side, within the framework of which he conducts his activities while framing the Russian Federation.

- If I get you right you think it is possible to conclude peace between Baku and Yerevan only on the Russian negotiating track?

- Russia is the only country that really wants to preserve stability and security in the region and insists on the implementation of the trilateral agreements of November 2020 by both sides of the conflict, not by one of them.

On the other hand, I don't exclude that the Central Asian countries as well as Belarus could also play a mediating role in the negotiations between Baku and Yerevan due to their neutral status regarding the region.

- What is your attitude to the installation of the "Lachin" checkpoint on the notional Azerbaijani-Armenian border?

- Given the tense situation in the region, as well as the need to thwart the illegal movement of weapons, ammunition and fighters, this step is reasonable. However, I think that this measure should not only contribute to the suppression of all these illegal activities and steps by the Armenian side but should also serve to establish contacts of civilians with each other, on both sides.

Russia supports the implementation of the November 2020 agreements by both sides of the conflict and is not interested in the militarisation of the region. Therefore, Moscow supports any steps and actions aimed at achieving a compromise approach in relations between the parties to the conflict and is doing its best to bring closer the establishment of a lasting peace in this strategically important Caucasus region.

- According to your assessment, will there be a CSTO mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border?

- Relations between Armenia and CSTO are quite complicated, but I think the deployment of CSTO forces on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is the only realistic chance to fully resolve the conflict. I believe that the members of this military bloc will fully support a step aimed at the stability and security of the region.