West’s goal in post-Soviet area is to harm Russia, expert says

Speaking with Alpha News on the sidelines of the 10th Primakov Readings International Forum, Director of the Center for Eurasian Studies IMI MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry Ivan Safranchuk commented on the ability of the West to replace Russia in the South Caucasus.

According to the expert, Armenia’s fixation on external players is a dead end.

“Russia understands what is happening in Armenia with the Armenian people, because now it is a historically very important time, not just for the state but for the Armenian people. This is a turning point. It seems to me that part of Armenian society wants to shift their fate onto someone else, and that is why they talk so much about France, about other Europeans, about America, and some complain about Russia. However, the fate of the Armenian people is ultimately in Armenian hands. This fixation on external players and the readiness of part of the Armenian political elite to entrust their fate to someone else’s game and to consider themselves only as an element of the game is a dead end,” Safranchuk said.

According to the political scientist, Europeans look at everyone in the world, especially in the post-Soviet countries, “as aborigines who need to be remade according to the European model.” Their goal is to cause maximum harm to Russia.

“I am deeply convinced that the West has two main goals in the post-Soviet area. The first is to harm Russia. That is, causing maximum harm is the most important goal.

The second goal is altruistic, missionary. It is to spread the European experience. Europeans—even to a greater extent than Americans—look at everyone in the world, especially in the post-Soviet countries, as aborigines who need to be remade according to their own model,” Safranchuk noted.

The expert believes that France’s potential does not correspond to its strategic thinking.

“France’s potential does not correspond to its strategic thinking; France still has some global interests and ideas, but it does not have sufficient potential to implement this. In recent years, we have seen a complete collapse of France’s strategic reputation. There are no ideas. There is a desire to cling to parts of the post-Soviet area and to the Middle East. This is very fragmented strategic thinking, where there is no single picture and they act absolutely in their own selfish interests. This is the same virtual level of politics, all for the sake of reputation,” Safranchuk said.

Speaking about whether Russia has any fears of losing an ally like Armenia, the political scientist said that there are such fears.

“I think that there are such fears and discussions that are going on in Armenian society. It seems to me that they discuss whether the tragic loss of Karabakh occurred due to the fact that they relied too much on Russia or because, in recent years, they began to drift away from Russia. The Armenian people are at a very important historical turning point and must resolve some basic issues. Of course, there are fears that there may be a drift from Russia. I think Russia wants to remain in historical connection with Armenia, to remain in the same historical destiny as Armenia. But it does not want to impose,” Safranchuk concluded.