Azerbaijan dictates new realities forcing Armenia to follow regional agenda Fiasco of Paris-Yerevan tandem

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a number of remarkable statements in an interview with the country's Public TV. Let's focus on the hopes of the premier, which he pins on the West.

Thus, Nikol Pashinyan insolently said that there is a consensus in the EU to deepen relations with Armenia. As who? No one is calling Armenia to the EU, let alone NATO. It's impossible since Armenia is a member of the EAEU and CSTO. Armenia will not see huge financial investments or just free aid from the EU. It is clear about investments. Armenia is too small, too poor and too self-isolated to be seriously invested in. But Yerevan is categorically dissatisfied even with the funds allocated by various European countries and structures for the accommodation of Karabakh Armenians (10.45 million euros) because earlier Europe promised 2.6 billion euros.

Some forces in the West need Armenia only as a tool to put pressure on Azerbaijan, nothing more. Moreover, Armenia does not demonstrate any real success in this role either. It is enough to recall the failure of two meetings of the UN Security Council convened by Yerevan and Paris. No resolutions were adopted on their results. There was an ordinary exchange of opinions, nothing more. Although Yerevan and Paris dreamed of pushing through sanctions against Azerbaijan. In other words, there is a complete fiasco of the provocative policy of the Paris-Yerevan tandem.

Then we saw an example of how official Baku perfectly defends its position, forming a new agenda. Let me remind you that on October 5, a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was to be held in Granada with the participation of EU President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. But the head of our state did not go to that meeting. It was a clear response to the provocations by the Yerevan-Paris tandem. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who had previously allowed herself inappropriate statements, this time managed to surpass herself, exhausting Baku's patience with her statements. The meeting in Granada was held without the participation of our head of state, but in the end, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan was forced to sign a joint statement in which he recognised the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh economic region and enclaves.

After that, Brussels started calling Baku with a request to agree to a new meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister. Baku replied that such a meeting could take place, but there would be no French participation in it. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, once again stating Baku's readiness to sign a peace treaty with Armenia, proposed a new format for this purpose.

"If it is not one-sided and not biased, then, of course, we accept any mediation and assistance. But, in my opinion, the most correct choice in this sphere, taking into account both historical ties and geographical factors, of course, could be Georgia," the head of our state said.

But that was not all. The day before, receiving Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev, President Aliyev made a new statement, which elicited Yerevan's reaction. Thus, the Azerbaijani leader emphasised the importance of solving regional issues with the participation of the countries of the region in the "3+3" format, noting the holding of meetings in this format at appropriate levels.

Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with Public TV that Armenia is ready for the meetings in the "3+3" format. This means that the situation is again developing according to the scenario favourable to Azerbaijan. A scenario in which all the issues of the region are solved by the states of the region, without the participation of extra-regional forces. And this is the right decision. Baku is absolutely not concerned that this scenario will displease Paris.