(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Qabil Ashirov read more In recent days, a political competition between Russia and the
United States over the South Caucasus is getting more intensified.
Both sides are seriously fighting to take the lead in the
normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in order to
maintain their dominance.
In a comment on the issue for Azernews , the
pundit Turab Rzayev noted that it doesn't matter who moderates
here. The main thing is who creates real conditions for peace and
who offers a real platform. The political analyst reminded that
even the Azerbaijani side had a proposal that Georgia was active in
this matter. If Georgia wants, it can be a moderator, which is a
common space for both America and Russia.
“The main issue here is how the parties approach peace. That is
what is important for Azerbaijan. The USA is still ahead in this
race. Because of the documents leaked to the press, it seems that
the USA recognizes Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabagh.
Secondly, the USA sees the principle of self-determination of
Armenians as absurd. Instead of the idea of a so-called
“independent artsakh republic” or the right of "arsakh people" to
self-determination, they see [Karabakh] Armenians as a political
minority in Azerbaijan,” Turab Rzayev said.
He also does not rule out that the USA press the parties. The
USA are pressuring Azerbaijan regarding the rights of Armenians in
Karabakh, even reports say that they press Azerbaijan to give some
autonomy. On the other hand, they pressure Armenia to recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and to recognize Karabakh
Armenians as an ethnic minority in Azerbaijan. He emphasizes that
there is a real peace plan on the table under the name of the
Washington plan. In addition, the EU also has a plan, as well. In
the Brussels effect, the parties were offered about $5bn as
financial assistance so that the parties would sign peace and start
the process of border delimitation and demarcation.
“However, we do not see similar steps from Russia. Russia is not
exactly laying out a peace map. On the contrary, we even see that
Russia labels Pashinyan as a traitor regarding Washington's plan
because he recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. So I don't
think Russia has anything more to offer for peace at this point,”
the pundit pointed out.
He noted that Russia has measures to do more provocations.
Russia can prevent peace by perpetrating these provocations, just
as before, at the meeting in Washington when the Armenian FM had to
stop the meeting and flew to Moscow, and was obliged to give more
positive interviews about Russia. Because open provocations against
Pashinyan's personality had already started.
As for the claims of the US mass media about Russian intention
to turn Karabakh into South Ossetia and Donbas, the pundit said it
could also be possible. Rzayev said that he wrote two articles
about the issue when the 9 November statement was signed.
“I noted in my articles that we must open all lines of
communication with Armenia. Because we have to force Armenia to
peace. We don't need constant conflict. It is not necessary to
maintain the front line created there permanently. In addition, we
must allow the formation of the Russian Karabakh. In other words,
it is clear that the Armenian Karabakh project is over. The West,
Armenia, and even the regime in Karabakh understand that the dreams
of Armenians to create a new Armenian state here or to unite
Karabakh with Armenia are finished. This is not a possible option
any more. Even Pashinyan does not propose their independence or
unification with Armenia. Everyone accepted this. However, the
process of Russification may continue. It is clear that the idea of
the Armenian Karabagh was abandoned and the idea of the Russian
Karabagh was switched to. That is, the Russian language was
declared the second state language in Karabakh. The Russian
community was created. I would like to inform you that there is a
large Russian community in Azerbaijan, and the head of the
community was elected as a member of the Azerbaijani parliament.
What is the need to create a second such community in the territory
of Azerbaijan?
Also, branches of Russian ministries were established in
Karabakh, and statues of Russian historical personalities and
public figures are being erected in Karabakh. Support rallies for
Putin are being held on the issue of Ukraine. To whom is all this a
message?” Turab Rzayev stressed.
He said that Pashinyan does not need such activities. He opined
that Russia is doing these aiming to stay in the region via
Karabakh even if it would be withdrawn from Armenia. The Pundit
noted that it is not a new idea. Turab Rzayev reminded that even
Zhirinovsky said that the Karabagh belongs neither to Armenia nor
Azerbaijan, the Karabagh belongs to Russia. In this regard, the
president's office in Ukraine has repeatedly informed that Russia
is doing what it did in Crimea even now in Karabakh.
“I also stated in my articles that the Armenian Karabagh has
brought many disasters to Azerbaijan for 30 years. So, we cannot
allow Russian Karabakh. However, it seems that Russia is trying its
best to freeze the conflict. If the conflict is frozen, it will be
like the Transnistria conflicts, Ossetian and Abkhazian conflicts
which have remained unresolved for 30 years. Therefore, under no
circumstances we should allow the formation of the idea of Russian
Karabagh. Even in his interview with the BBC, Vardanyan seems to
rely on Russia, although he did not say it openly,” the political
analyst opined.
He added that the approach of the USA regarding the right of
Armenians to self-determination and viewing Armenians as a national
minority in Azerbaijan may not satisfy Armenia to some extent.
However, the pundit thinks that Pashinyan agrees with these
conditions.
“The opposition in Armenia is an obstacle to Pashinyan [in this
process]. Even in Pashinyan's own party, there are those who quit
their jobs, and accuse Pashinyan of treason. These individuals are
clearly sabotaging the process. The Hraparak agency leaks
information about the peace agreement in all the media, for
example. The agency is a publication that works for the opposition
and forces close to Russia. The news of this publication caused
great upheaval in Armenia and Karabakh. Putin also accuses
Pashinyan of recognizing Karabagh as the territory of Azerbaijan.
An interesting question arises. Does Russia not recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? I see this process more like
Russia forcing Pashinyan to get support than Pashinyan getting
support from Russia due to his displeasure with Washington. On the
one hand, Russia is putting pressure on Pashinyan with the help of
the opposition, the former Karabakh clan, on the other hand, with
the help of the separatists in Karabakh, and on the other hand,
with the help of the media in Russia,” the political analyst
concluded.
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