Attempt to resolve to Artsakh problem by force tantamount to  political bankruptcy for Azerbaijani president - Ruben Mehrabyan

ArmInfo. No doubt, Azerbaijan prefers to solve the Artsakh problem by settling all the issues at a time by means of another military aggression, Ruben Mehrabyan, an  expert for the Armenian Institute of International and Security  Affairs, said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

"And we all see Baku is not at all concealing its goals, which can be  explained - first of all, due to the proportion of forces between  Armenia and Azerbaijan. And we understand that this proportion allows  Azerbaijan to have such plans. Another question is the price  Azerbaijan and [President Ilham] Aliyev himself could pay for that,"  Mr Mehrabyan said. 

An attempt to resolve the Artsakh problem by force will turn into a  political price for the organizers, while Baku is not at all sure if  such a price will be acceptable to them - or what price it will prove  to bee at all. In this context, Mr Meharyan thinks that capturing  Artsakh could well turn into a political bankruptcy for Aliyev. 

"It is clear that Azerbaijan's life-long ruler does not at all like  this prospect. He is perfectly aware that such actions would make him  'unworthy of handshake'. So all the risks are being reckoned with -  and Baku is good at reckoning. So I think they are most likely to  refrain from such steps given their unpredictable consequences," Mr  Mehrabyan said. 

In this context, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to  Brussels is an attempt to curb Azerbaijan's expansionist aspirations.  Given the present international situation, the very meeting between  Pashinyan and Aliyev is a deterrent. In this respect, Mr Mehrabyan  considers Armenia's diplomatic efforts right. 

Armenia's premier is in Brussels now and is scheduled to hold a  meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and  President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Before leaving for Brussels, Mr  Pashinyan announced intentions to discuss issues related to  commencement of peace negotiations with Aliyev.    

"In fact, Aliyev is rather vulnerable. So he cannot ignore a number  of geopolitical factors and international position. Armenia, in turn,  has to take advantage of these factors in opposing Azerbaijan to curb  its aggression, which is actually being done now. And success depends  on effective and consistent steps, as well as on a number of external  factors. One thing is certain, Armenia has every chance for it and  has just to take it," Mr Mehrabyan said.