Days of Armenian separatism in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh numbered Queuing on Hakari

So, the masks are off. What we have been witnessing over recent days is the refusal of the Armenian elite to continue the negotiations and their mobilization in a revanchist-agonistic impulse to protect the “miatsum” chimera.

First, Prime Minister Pashinyan made ambiguous speeches for three days, and yesterday the Armenians took up the “case”, which will go down in Armenian historiography as “trucks of dignity”. The so-called "working group on crisis management in Karabakh" in Armenia decided to provide the population of Nagorno-Karabakh with "urgent humanitarian assistance". Several refrigerators carrying food moved towards the Lachin border checkpoint on the conditional border.

Even in the frames of the video, one can feel the ardor of indignation emanating from the cabs with Armenian truckers. PR support was added to the action with ambassadors and diplomats from different countries. The head of the EU mission in Armenia, Markus Ritter and Co, also showed up, and everyone looked like respectable gentlemen in a noisy youth disco. In the eyes - a thirst for adrenaline interspersed with fear.

Diplomatic support “from above” for the event was provided by Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, who, among other maxims about the humanitarian crisis, take it and blurt it out: “We took note of the readiness expressed by the Azerbaijani authorities to also deliver goods through the city of Aghdam. This should not be seen as an alternative to opening the Lachin corridor.”

With this peremptory statement, he clearly revealed discord in the ranks of European officials regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. Indeed, as recently as July 15, EU Council President Charles Michel stated that he welcomed Baku's proposal to use the Aghdam-Khankandi road and even added:

"I consider both options important and encourage humanitarian supplies from both sides to meet the needs of the population."

And what now, to dispute that the new road is alternative? It seems that the Armenian disease has also leaked to Europe - so far, it seems that only in Yerevan, they could easily refuse their own words, and even disown the statements of their colleagues - just spit in general. And who, in this case, to believe, with whom, excuse me, do business?

Apparently, there are two opposing groups in the EU itself: pragmatists and Armenianophiles. The pragmatists represented by Charles Michel are guided by the long-term interests of Europe. The fact that Baku in any of its actions is guided by international law serves as a green light for pragmatists, paving the way for the development of strategic relations with Azerbaijan and the adoption of its principles for resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Meanwhile, the resolution of the conflict through the mediation of Charles Michel, of course, will significantly raise the rating of this politician, who intends to nominate his candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General next year. It is known that moderation of the negotiation process is his personal initiative.

It is noteworthy that Borrell, on the contrary, completely distanced himself from the process. Apparently, he represents the European "party of war against Muslims" and now, as if deliberately strikes at his rival. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with his statement, laid bare the whole essence of the European policy of double standards in their most primitive expression.

He clarified the underlying idea that the priority for him and his supporters is not to provide the Armenians of Karabakh with food, but to satisfy their nationalist ambitions, and that the problem for him personally is not humanitarian, but political. By installing the Lachin checkpoint and providing the goods necessary for the residents of Khankandi through the Aghdam road, Baku, in fact, crystallized the duplicity of the world community.

Indicative in this regard is the balanced and meaningful reaction of Baku to the provocation with the “humanitarian aid” under diplomatic escort.

Emin Huseynov, special representative of the Azerbaijani president in the territories liberated from occupation, which are part of the Karabakh economic region, issued a statement: “Armenia, by congesting vehicles, is trying to commit a provocation for the purpose of political manipulation and propaganda at the Lachin checkpoint of the state border. The Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated at various levels that the Aghdam-Khankandi road can be used to transport goods to the territory where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.”

An even more uncompromising message was sent to Armenia by presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev. He held a meeting with the ambassadors of Turkey, the US, the EU and Switzerland, after which he wrote on Twitter: “It is unacceptable to insist on the use of the Lachin road, but to abandon the Aghdam road, to close the road, to politicize it. The international community should give a clear message about the use of the Aghdam-Khankandi road and the reintegration of the Armenian population of Karabakh into Azerbaijan. There is no other way! Game over!".

Hikmat Hajiyev stressed that Armenia should forget about territorial claims against Azerbaijan, withdraw its forces from the Karabakh region and stop financing the puppet regime.

Attention is drawn to the composition of those invited by the presidential aide. Türkiye is our ally. The US does not have serious conflicts with Baku regarding the settlement, Switzerland is a neutral country, one of the centers of the world financial system. And even the EU, despite the unsatisfied ambitions of some of its representatives, is a strategic partner of Azerbaijan, connected with our country by an agreement on the supply of hydrocarbons. Thus, Baku has demonstrated to the whole world that all this Armenian-French howl in the media swamps will lead to nothing, since Baku, in addition to strength and justice, also has the most serious partners and allies. And Hajiyev's warning is not a challenge to the world community, but a statement of fact.

If you think about it, Baku's consent to let medical supplies through is the natural maximum that it is ready to go to. The transportation of everything else is unacceptable - this is not agreed with the Azerbaijani authorities, there are no contracts with Azerbaijan for the supply of these goods, which means that customs clearance is impossible. And in general, at least for security reasons, it is impossible to import goods from a country that does not actually recognize your territorial integrity. This is an axiom that the global establishment understands very well.

And no matter how Yerevan fusses and whoever it pleases, Baku's positions in the political and diplomatic plane are confidently strengthening. Skillfully using various competing negotiating platforms and playing on the contradictions of their owners, the Azerbaijani leadership manages to get confirmation of the justice of its principles. At first, Charles Michel did not insist on international participation in the dialogue between Baku and the Armenians of Karabakh, and also supported the Aghdam-Khankandi route.

And then, already in Moscow, Sergey Lavrov stated that “the Armenian side has an understanding of the need to convince the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the earliest possible meetings with Azerbaijani representatives to agree on the rights arising from the relevant legislation and from international obligations (in this case, Azerbaijan), including numerous conventions on ensuring the rights of national minorities”.

Thus, the entire Armenian discourse, both about the need for international mediation in Baku's contacts with the Armenians of Karabakh, and about the imaginary humanitarian catastrophe, shattered like a house of cards. And now, unable to oppose anything to Baku on the diplomatic track, the Armenians are trying to replay the situation through provocations on the ground. Moreover, they apparently believe that any scenario will suit them and that they, they say, managed to drive Baku into zugzwang.

According to the primitive consideration of the Yerevan analysts, if Baku lets the trucks through, it will be presented as "the triumph of world justice over the infidel cruelty". And if it does not let it through, then the more clearly it will show the world this notorious cruelty.

The very fact of "queuing on Hakari" is intended to attract the attention of the world community. “Life is not allowed in Artsakh”; “Azerbaijan kills with hunger”, etc. Hypothetically, this queuing can last for a long time, which, in the opinion of Armenians and their patrons, will only fan the anti-Azerbaijani hysteria more.

Azerbaijani prominent pundit Farhad Mammadov on his Telegram channel suggested that the current provocation was undertaken in order to update the Khankandi air communication with the outside world, and France could be behind this, “which seeks to raise the stakes and use its resources at the UN level”. “Unauthorized air communication by Azerbaijan will lead to the violation of the rules for the use of the country's airspace with the corresponding consequences. What will fly? Who will fly a helicopter? And will it fly?!” the expert asks.

It won't fly. It seems that the patrons of the Armenian project decided that Baku would lose its nerve, and it would either make an impulsive act, or, on the contrary, be afraid of pressure and not use force where it was necessary to ensure its sovereignty. Both assumptions are wrong. Baku, without batting an eyelid, will repel any encroachment on its sovereignty. The masks have been completely torn off the Pashinyan team and their foreign friends, and they have nowhere else to raise their stakes. Baku has already given the answer: "The game is over." There will be no other.

The mistake of the Armenians is that they project their own dependence on the opinion of the world community onto Azerbaijan. They do not want to understand that Baku is building relations with world powers on a solid basis of strategic ties, and not using pseudo-humanistic narratives. In Yerevan, they simply underestimate the margin of safety of our state, which will not be particularly distressed if an Armenian trucker is suddenly heat stroked or got some other blow. Azerbaijan coped with the unprecedented international pressure during the 44-day war, and even more so now. But will Armenia itself overcome the consequences of its own current provocations? Do its authorities understand that any intrigues on their part not only discredit its negotiating image, but are also fraught with Azerbaijan's refusal from any negotiations?

"Game over!" - these words are primarily addressed to Pashinyan, in my opinion. Our news website has always been cautious about Pashinyan's constructivism. Sooner or later, he had to show his true colors. This hour has come. He just looks like he fired. The home-grown Ijevan cowboy is unaware that all the cartridges in his drum have been replaced with blanks in advance - by those who will fire the main shot.

Armenia, contrary to the declared recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, continues to grossly interfere in its internal affairs. To be fair, this whole country is a legitimate target for us. The very fact that there is a certain “Working Group on Crisis Management in Karabakh” in the Cabinet of Ministers of Armenia already gives Baku the right to launch a missile attack on the residence of the Armenian government.

Baku, of course, will act more delicately. However, the effect will be no less serious.

Game is over!