Armenia’s public statements generally fit into rhetoric of distancing from Russia – Kristina Yermak

Speaking with Alpha News, expert in international affairs Kristina Yermak commented on Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin’s statement that Moscow is against any hasty documents being concluded between Yerevan and Baku, the statement by the President of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan that he considers it unlikely that Russia will mediate in talks with Azerbaijan, as well as the crisis in Baku-Moscow relations.

“Since we are currently in a rather turbulent period, the West’s influence is becoming increasingly active. We understand that the change of administration in the US is influencing this process, and there is a slight regrouping of diplomatic resources in the Armenian direction. It is important for Russia that the agreement be concluded on the conditions that will satisfy the countries of the region and will not strategically lead to economic and political risks. Therefore, I believe that Mikhail Galuzin’s statement is a reminder that Russia is interested in a diplomatic solution, in the diplomatic completion of this process, and Russia insists on excluding Western influence,” Yermak said.

Statements by the Armenian authorities about Moscow’s mediation in the negotiation process for a peace agreement are part of the rhetoric of distancing from Russia, the expert noted.

“Russia has never refused to mediate and is interested in the negotiation process. But the Armenian side is parrying all this with statements like, sorry, but the mediation that took place in the Artsakh issue was not successful, and today we do not see any prospects. That is, these public statements fit into the rhetoric of distancing from Russia, which makes the situation even more tense. Nevertheless, Russian officials note both productive negotiations at the level of foreign ministers and economic dividends from Armenia’s participation in the EAEU, and so on,” Yermak noted.

According to the expert, the crisis in relations between Baku and Moscow is temporary.

“The nature of the relations that exist today between Azerbaijan and Russia is enshrined in the declaration on allied cooperation, and I believe that this still remains the basis. That is, the story with the closure of the ‘Russian House’ shows that Azerbaijan is interested in being taken as a serious player in the region, as a serious partner and ally, if we are talking about allied relations.

Economic relations and the projects that exist between Russia and Azerbaijan are of strategic importance both for the countries and for the entire region. Therefore, I do not think that in the long term this situation will have a systemic impact on the nature of relations. It is a fact that there will be a cooling, we are seeing this now, but soon, when the situation is resolved, I believe everything will return back to what it was,” Yermak concluded.