Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders` common task is squeezing Russia out  of region - Armen Ashotyan

ArmInfo. Armenia's authorities are refusing an honest talk with Russia, their goals are different,  Armen Ashotyan Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), has stated.  

According to him, the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders have a common  task, namely, squeezing Russia out of the region. 

"A systemic crisis in the Armenian-Russian relations, the Armenian  authorities' incoherent policy in dealing with the Karabakh problem,  being constantly torn between the East and the West have caused a  situation when the country's real interests are not associated with  the ruling team," Mr Ashotyan wrote. 

Russia itself has retracted its own Nagorno-Karabakh conflict  settlement scheme. 

"It was last year that Moscow stated at different levels that the  issue of Nagorno-Karabakh's status should be dealt with in the  future. That was in Armenia's interests as it afforded an opportunity  to struggle for Karabakh's self-determination. But Nikol Pashinyan  sabotaged that scheme later. Speaking that we are not against  Russia's scheme and at the same time not against the West's scheme  would be utterly absurd, as the two schemes were in direct conflict  with each other," Mr Ashotyan said. 

It is absolutely logical that Armenia should have grabbed hold of  Russia's scheme at least for the simple reason that it provided for  postponing the issue of status, whereas the scheme proposed by  Washington and Brussels spells the death of Karabakh's  self-determination. 

"As a result, without clearly stating its principled stand on  Nagorno-Karabakh's self-determination, Yerevan enabled Baku to reject  the Russian scheme. 

"After this, no reasons for Russia to push ahead with its settlement  scheme. So it retracted its scheme," Mr Ashotyan said.  

Russia has failed to capitalize on its great role it started playing  in Armenia's security on November 9, 2020. 

"And Armenian society's perceiving Russia as guarantor of its  security is at a historical minimum now.  And it is not only Russia,  but also Armenia's authorities that are to blame. Armenia's  authorities could not organized effective teamwork with Russia.  Instead of ensuring progress in dialogue with Russia, Pashinyan  started promoting anti-Russian forces," Mr Ashotyan said.