U.S. not to choose between Armenia, Azerbaijan - Sergey Markedonov

ArmInfo.The United States will not make a choice between Azerbaijan and Armenia, especially amid the energy problems facing its strategic ally, the European  Union (EU), Russian expert Sergey Markedonov said as he commented on  the first results of Speaker of U.S.  House of Representative Nancy  Pelosi's visit to Armenia. 

"What can I say? Unreasonably great expectations are being dispelled.  Some telegram channels, which are anti-US ones, are skeptically  reporting that Washington has definitively taken sides with Armenia  (which allegedly proceeds from Pelosi's statements on "deadly  attacks" by Azerbaijan). But it is not so, and developments will show  the inference to be right soon," the expert said. 

The U.S. will not crop cooperating with Turkey, a NATO member-state,  with the second strongest armed forces in the bloc. 

"Secondly, the United States is not making a choice between Armenia  and Azerbaijan, especially amid the energy problems facing its  strategic ally, the European Union (EU). And, of course, it will not  leave Israel - Baku's most important partner - alone. Curbing Iran,  keeping Turkey from 'exotic geopolitical steps' and forcing Russia  out of the Caucasus is the United States' three top priorities. And  the most important task is preventing the formation of any alliance,  particularly one by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran. This is the key," Mr  Markedonov said. 

Thirdly, Armenia will not be admitted to NATO in summary manner. Even  Georgia and Ukraine do not yet have Membership Action Plans (MAP),  and no peacekeepers will be deployed in place of Russians. 

In this context, Mr Markedonov said that since 1920 the problem of  Moscow's insufficient efforts has repeatedly been raised in  Armenian-Russian relations. "And those criticizing Russia cannot be  said to be always wrong. But one fine point: the West is not offering  nor will it offer anything better. No return of Artsakh or 'crusade'  against Baku or Ankara."

On the other hand, unreasonably great expectations and "fits of  Americanophilia" would have been prevented if Moscow's positions were  clearer. 

"At least at the official level, all the more so informally. Stop  laying the blame on 'the wrong Pashinyan.' We have our interests in  the region, and they should be talked about. Yes, we cannot serve  Armenian interests alone. Yes, we have something to retain and lose  in our relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. But the crushing victory  Baku, in tandem with Ankara, gained over Yerevan without a compromise  under Russia's auspices is not in this group, no matter how bad and  weak-willed Pashinyan is. We have numerous questions to ask him and  Armenian political elite. But is it not they, but we that are in  question now," Mr Markedonov said. 

In November 2020, Yerevan had to concede. "However, 'finishing  Armenia off' with out consent (Moscow's actually mediation in ending  the latest escalation is not receiving media coverage) is surely a  bad scenario. And I am saying the thousandth time: reacting to a  crisis is not synonymous with laddism.  But such a reaction must not  be replaced with meaningful silence," Mr Markedonov said. 

During her visit to Armenia, Nancy Pelosi, at a news briefing,  accused Azerbaijan of "illegal and deadly attacks" on Armenia. "We,  our delegation, have been very outspoken in saying that this was  initiated by the Azeris and that there has to be recognition of  that," she said.