Radar Armenia‘s interlocutor is international affairs expert Shahan Gandaharian.
– How would you comment on the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan? Although no document was signed, agreements were reached. What do these mean? Will the peace agreement still be signed by the end of the year?
– The agreements at the official level are general. According to official news, the parties held serious and substantive discussions on key aspects of the peace agenda, including demarcation, opening and development of communications, initialing a peace treaty, and other related issues. A general agreement was reached to continue contacts and negotiations in various working groups and at higher levels. The central node remains the key to unlocking the communication routes and its status.
– The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that if the principles are maintained, Armenia is not against outsourcing the Syunik road. What to expect?
– It is interesting that before this meeting, the Carnegie Center circulated the American proposal to transfer control of the corridor to an American private company. This is nothing more than the exclusion of Russian troops and the de facto cancellation of point 9 of the November statement. The statement of the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia regarding the outsourcing of the Syunik corridor was noteworthy. Later, it was not denied, but it was said that it was distorted. The premises suggest that the outsourcing option is not excluded.
– How will Russia react to this process? The process is continuing in a bilateral format.
– Russia welcomed the Abu Dhabi meeting, but this is tantamount to bypassing the Russian factor. Moscow continues to remind others of its mediation and guarantee, but it is clear that other powers do not agree with this option, quite the contrary.
– I would also like to touch upon the Russian-American negotiations: what developments can be expected on the Ukrainian front?
– The Russian-American negotiations are going through ups and downs and will continue to go through them. The general trend is the blockade of Russia. NATO troops have reached the border areas of Russia and the Scandinavian countries. Now, the US is proposing to come to the South Caucasus through a private company. The negotiations are proceeding according to Washington’s rules.
