ArmInfo. It is necessary to realize that Russia is losing its political exclusivity regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. A similar opinion is shared by Sergey Markedonov, Russian political scientist, Leading Researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian political scientist expressed his conviction that the theses of the Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan in an interview on July 11 give reason to think about the role of Russia in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement.
The expert said that the NATO summit in Vilnius "absorbed" the entire international information agenda. However, according to him, no matter how important the forum in the capital of Lithuania is, other developments also require serious attention.
In this vein, Markedonov recalled that the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has been viewed as completely hopeless for many years.
"And all attempts to find some solutions are only of short-term interest. A couple of days of high expectations, then again a hopeless routine or routine hopelessness. Meanwhile, the lengthy interview of the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan to the VoA Armenian Service on July 11 gives a reason to think," he is convinced. Firstly, the expert continued, Grigoryan is one of the key negotiators in the process of resolving the conflict with Azerbaijan.
"It means that he not only knows all the insides , he forms them. Secondly, the Secretary of the Security Council is a publicly active figure, he brings many of the directives of the Armenian government to the general public at the right time for it. Therefore, we listen carefully!
Grigoryan's key ideas are: talks between Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan, scheduled for July 21, may take place earlier; The Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh is not living up to expectations; the problem of Karabakh Armenians is not about territories, but about civil rights (in fact, in the Azerbaijani state); relations with the United States are especially important for Armenia, they should be strengthened and developed in every possible way," the political scientist noted.
Markedonov believes that there is no need to make hasty conclusions. However, according to him, the politico-diplomatic design presented by Grigoryan testifies that a framework agreement mediated by the West is closer than before.
"This does not mean a meaningful solution to the settlement of the conflict, it is about "packaging" it, which the elites of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to "sell" more or less successfully in the domestic market. This news is not so much. good for Russia.
"This is not about the meaningful settlement of the conflict, it is about the "packaging" it, which the elites of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to "sell" more or less successfully in the domestic market This news is not very good for Russia. You can, of course, blame the pro-Western politicians of Armenia, and such critical pathos will be justified in some way. Someone will remember (which is justified) Russia's busyness with Ukraine. But for the sake of objectivity, it is worth mentioning our work with the Caucasus on a "leftover principle" (not from 2022, but much earlier), and our gaps in information work (silence when it was necessary to shout ). In a word, a complex problem. Armenia, preferring the US to Russia, can lose more than gain. However, this will not be a good consolation for us," Markedonov expressed his conviction.
At the same time, he urged not to be hysterical and shout "alarm"! " But it is necessary to realize that Russia is losing (and more and more every day) its political exclusivity in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. A framework agreement with the moderation of the US and the EU will, alas, strengthen this tendency. Competition, of course, is not a verdict, it it can and should be won. But now we are getting involved in this competition, losing the informal status of the first among equals. Not irrevocably, but there are reasons for concern. Serious work on mistakes is extremely important, in conditions when time is running out," Markedonov summed up.