The interlocutor of Radar Armenia is public figure Mikael Hayrapetyan.
– The Russia-Ukraine war has gathered new momentum. Can the Kursk Offensive change the trajectory of the war?
– Yes, it can change, but it will not be a breakthrough in the war.
– On the one hand, there is the Russian-Ukrainian war; on the other hand, the Iran-Israel tension has escalated. Considering the role of Iran and Russia in our region, can these processes affect the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations?
– They certainly have and will have a cosmetic effect on the process, but not the regulation.
– It was announced that, with the parties’ agreement, the issue of unblocking the roads has been removed from the agenda of the peace treaty on the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and will be left for further discussion. What risks and problems does removing the blockade issue from the peace treaty bring about?
– Today, it is declared like that, but lifting the embargo cannot be left out of the ever-to-be-signed contract. Since the exclusion thesis is purely diplomatic propaganda and not natural, it does not imply any risks, problems, or positive visions.
– Although the issue of lifting the embargo is temporarily not a topic of discussion, Azerbaijan continues the policy of preconditions. What should Armenia do to encourage Azerbaijan to sign the peace agreement that will guarantee real peace?
– First, I disagree with your thesis that the treaty guarantees real peace. Second, only the USA, Russia, and Turkey can be inclined to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Do they need one at this moment? Surely not. One thing Armenia can do today is prepare to be in an advantageous position for the moment of signing a peace treaty. Armenia still needs to do that.
– What is the role of the United States and Russia in this matter?
– So far, it is not in anyone’s interest to conclude such an agreement until the result of the West-East confrontation is clear, so their role does not stem from the issue of agreeing. Still, from their interests in mapping the region, for which they are fighting in Ukraine and the Middle East, it is not excluded: tomorrow in the Pacific region. Peace treaties are concluded based on the results of significant wars. And it is impossible to go to the final solution, signing a peace treaty, in a separate part of the war scene. It is the same as thinking that the South Caucasus could become a region caught in fire on all sides, like Switzerland during the Second World War. It isn’t very sensible. Today, only the United States is interested in preserving this fragile peace until the result emerges, so we owe it only to it for today’s, and hopefully tomorrow’s, ceasefire. Russia and Turkey (and they are multi-faceted and diverse) may benefit from the collapse of the current truce situation that has been maintained for four years thanks to the efforts of the USA, let alone play a role in a positive sense. It is necessary to prepare.
