"When Putin is forced to leave, Aliyev will change his policy"

Azadlıq.org:  Today, Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan spoke about the importance of extending the mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh. But the speaker said that they are also thinking about the possibility of considering alternative formats.

"Perhaps we should consider the option of exercising control in Artsakh (Karabakh) not only by Russian peacekeepers, but also through other international formats," Simonyan stressed.

However, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Defense, Security and Anti-Corruption Arzu Nagiyev, commenting on Simonyan’s statements to “Radio Azadlyg”, stressed that there could be no alternative variant: “There is a statement dated November 10, 2020, and, accordingly, Russian peacekeepers are in the region. The peacekeeping forces did not come there to protect the Karabakh Armenians, they came to stand between the conflicting parties."

According to the deputy, Yerevan thought that the monitoring of the EU mission at the border would continue, but the opposite happened: "Second, the visit of separatist Araik Harutyunyan (the leader of an unrecognized organization in Karabakh) to Paris did not produce serious results. Armenia’s goal is to leave from Russia. Because during the recent events it was believed that the peacekeepers would take serious steps against the Azerbaijanis. But the leadership of the peacekeepers understands that they are on the territory of Azerbaijan."

Nagiyev says that the Armenians have always tried to use alternative options and did not hide it: "It is clear where the essence of Simonyan's statement came from. France is seriously working to use force and return to the region."

And political scientist Azer Gasimly told Radio Azadlyg that President Ilham Aliyev agreed to deploy the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh until the end of the 44-day war: "Now many people say that Ilham Aliyev agreed to this in order not to put the country in front of many problems, this "Not so. Most likely, the arrival of Russian peacekeepers in the region was agreed before the war. In this case, whether Aliyev will agree to the arrival of a peacekeeping contingent of another country in the territory, no."

According to the political scientist, Armenia understood a few days ago Baku did not close the Lachin corridor: "Putin simply puts pressure on the Pashinyan government with the latest events, as well as before."

A. Gasimly believes that when Putin is forced to leave power, Aliyev will change his policy: "That is, there will be further rapprochement with the West, and then new options may appear."

He says that if in the future the question arises of deploying peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh, then preference should be given to the Scandinavian countries: "Because they have no interests in the region, they are neutral. Secondly, the future peacekeeping mission should not have heavy weapons, which the Russians brought. Thirdly, this mission should be temporary, have a specific period. Fourthly, a "road map" should be prepared, which stages the integration of the region into Azerbaijan will take place before the arrival and departure of the contingent.

By the way, former US President Trump said that if a peacekeeping contingent of the Scandinavian countries is deployed in Karabakh, it would be appropriate." On the morning on December 12, a group of Azerbaijani citizens gathered on the Lachin-Khankendi road. The persons who declared that they are protesting the illegal exploitation of minerals in Karabakh in the territories where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed, continue their actions as before. The protesters also demand a meeting with the commander of the Russian peacekeepers Andrey Volkov. The command of the Russian peacekeepers has not yet met with them.

Ruben Vardanyan, introduced as the "Minister of State" by the Karabakh separatists, told the Armenian service of Radio Azatutyun on December 14 that "this is a political issue, not an environmental one."