Andrey Areshev: Problems with security and political interaction are existential for any state

In a live broadcast of Alpha Newsroom, Andrey Areshev, an expert in Strategic Culture Foundation, has noted that rash statements and actions could lead to negative situations.

“If Russia somehow withdraws itself from the discussion of the national security problems that Armenia faces, this will definitely not make the situation better, it is quite possible that it will make it worse.

As for the motives that guide the Armenian authorities, it seems to me that, at best, this is a kind of political naivety and ignorance of the lessons of history. Because if we turn to the times of the first Republic of Armenia, especially the late period of its history, we can observe similar sentiments. There was also blind faith in Western overseas partners back then. There was hope for Wilson’s map, for help from the West, which seemed to be verbally provided, but it did not come at the right moment. And in the end, Russia, then Soviet Russia, had to resolve these issues.

Taking into account the problems and challenges that Russia now faces, as well as negative sentiments in Russian-Armenian relations, I would like to note that there was also a positive thing, which was discussed during the forum. This was the desire of the Armenian government to create normal conditions for Russian business and Russian immigrants.

But, in my opinion, for any state, problems with security and political interaction are of an existential nature. And if we purposefully undermine them with rash statements and actions, we can find ourselves in an extremely bad situation.

I think that the anniversary of the start of hostilities on September 27, 2020, which was then also accompanied by some negative trends in Russian-Armenian relations, is now a little alarming. I would still like to believe that it is a naive idea about real politics rather than a malicious intent,” the expert noted.