Azerbaijan`s steps aimed at squeezing Russia out of South Caucasus -  Ruben Vardanyan

ArmInfo.Former state minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan does not think Armenia and Azerbaijan are drawing closer to peace. In his interview with a Russian TV channel he commented on the  US-brokered negotiations between the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs and  their work on a "road map for peace." 

According to him, Azerbaijan's setting up a checkpoint on the Lachin  corridor was an anti-Russian step. 

"They are sparing no effort to neutralize the Agreement of November  9, 2020, which was signed with Russia's participation. In this  respect, the basis for a peace agreement is very week, as peace in  the South Caucasus is difficult to establish without Russia. Also, I  can hardly imagine a peace agreement 'at gun point,' when people  cannot move freely. It is not a way peace agreements work," Mr  Vardanyan said.  Never has such a thing happened in history nor will  ever happen. It is a big game, including by Azerbaijan, to squeeze  Russia out of the South Caucasus.  

As to Azerbaijan referring to previously signed documents in pursuing  its policy of establishing full control over the Lachin corridor, Mr  Vardanyan said that the Trilateral Agreement provides for free  communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin  corridor, with Azerbaijani armed forces to be located at a distance  of at least 5 km from the Lachin corridor. The corridor had been  under the Russian peacekeepers' control for 2 years and a half, and  the ones that set up the checkpoint are themselves unable to explain  its status. Thus, Baku has caused a serious problem not only to the  Artsakh population and Russian peacekeeping troops, but also to  itself, by creating an explosive situation. And this is playing into  the hands of the forces sparing no effort to have Russia leave the  region.

As to the Azerbaijan foreign office's explanations that the  checkpoint is designed to prevent the transportation of military  personnel and arms supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, whereas the road is  free for civilians and cargoes, Mr Vardanyan stressed that it is the  Russian peacekeepers' function - and they had performed it before. In  case of any questions to the peacekeepers, scanners should have been  installed to show nothing like that was taking place. But the  Trilateral Agreement does not provide for the presence of Azerbaijani  servicemen, and any interpretations are just a play on words. The  Trilateral Agreement is quite clear. 

Moreover, if Azerbaijan has a "peace agenda", it is not the way of  this agenda into practice. "Progress toward peace can hardly be  imagined with stress being caused to people," Mr Vardanyan said. 

As to the fact that the U.S.-brokered negotiation process has left  the Russia-brokered one behind, Mr Vardanyan said that his knowledge  of history, including the history of the 20th century, enables him to  realize that "all the papers have no sense" without solid grounds.   

"We well remember the British premier who returned with a peace paper  from Munich, but World War II broke out, however. Any talks rove a  success only with solid grounds - people seeking an agreement.   Second, no peace can be established in the region at gunpoint, by  means of intimidation, ethnic cleansing threats, statements like  'those disagreeing will not live here'. A whole generation has grown  up in Nagorno- Karabakh who do not at all know what Azerbaijan is  because they have never had any contacts with Azerbaijanis. And I  hardly see an image Azerbaijan is creating for itself in Artsakh,  with its rhetoric and steps, instead of a peace agenda," Mr Vardanyan  said. In this context, he calls for strict commitment to the  Trilateral Agreement, under which the Lachin corridor is under the  Russian peacekeepers' control.