"The peace process is in the hands of the political leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia" Caliber.Az interview with Georgy Fedorov

Caliber.Az presents an interview with Georgy Fedorov, a Russian politician and public figure, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, and president of the Center for Social and Political Research "Aspect".

- Georgy Vladimirovich, to what extent is Russia interested in the rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey? 

Armenia is an important military-political ally of Russia and a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. I think the reduction of tension between Armenia and Turkey is in the interests of the countries of the Caucasus region.   

- Can Baku and Yerevan sign a peace agreement in the foreseeable future?

- Everything is in the hands of the political leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Neither Russia, Turkey, the European Union, nor the USA will be able to move the peace process forward without the participation of Baku and Yerevan. A peace based solely on third-party guarantees, rather than on the mutual desire of the peoples to resolve existing disputes, will not be sustainable in the long term.

- Do you think we should expect progress in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement after the recent meeting between Pashinyan and Putin in Moscow?

- I think the results of the negotiations should be assessed by the decisions to be taken in the near future. We should not get ahead of ourselves, especially when it comes to such a complicated issue. Besides, Russia's mediation is not at all about forcing any of the sides to implement the agreements reached earlier.

Everything depends on the efforts of the political leadership of the two countries: Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia's role in this process is advisory. Russian diplomacy can assist and suggest ways and methods of dispute resolution, but not lead two sovereign states by the hand. Manipulating and commanding others is a false path. And what is happening now in Europe, with active pressure from the United States, is a direct confirmation of this.

- One of the points in the joint statement of the Russian and Armenian leaders noted that the sides would oppose any manifestations of xenophobia and neo-Nazism. Does this mean that Russia is considering the possible involvement of Armenia in the conflict with Ukraine, given Moscow's rhetoric against Kyiv?

- I think there is no question of involving Armenia in what is happening in Ukraine. The special military operation is carried out exclusively by the Russian army. And there is no need for military assistance from the allies. However political and informational confrontation with the West is a much more serious challenge. Now, when the western countries led by the United States, not hiding their Russophobia, abolish everything Russian, the priority task of the Russian foreign policy is to gain the political support from the traditional allies. The members of the CSTO are in the first place here.

- Why does Russia's principled position against neo-Nazism not extend to Armenia, where they glorify the Nazi henchman Garegin Nzhdeh by erecting a monument to him in the centre of Yerevan?

- For all our peoples' dislike of Nazi ideology, it is worth distinguishing between isolated instances of its manifestation in certain countries and a deliberate policy of infringement of rights on the grounds of nationality or language, which we have witnessed in Ukraine over the past eight years and which is absolutely unacceptable in modern society.