“See who responded: president of the United States, U.S. Department of State, European Institutions…Our strategic partner did not express any viewpoint…Even if, what for others…we have four neighbors…Opinions of one is evident, where are the others?” Aram Z. Sargsyan (Head of the “Republic” party) touched over the issue of Armenia’s foreign and domestic policy in his interview to “1in.am News and Analyses” in the framework of the Real Politik program.
Expressing his pity for the Azerbaijani people whose hero kills a sleeping man, and does not realize his guilt, Sargsyan noted “ Safarov’s extradition was truly a sad case possible to have serious consequences. Armenian diplomacy should have done all the possible to hinder that stemming from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The World should draw implications from what happened these days- meaning the words about Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan as an autonomous region are empty words”. Analyzing the issue further into the context Sargsyan posed questions whether pro-Azerbaijani conflict (i.e. Nagorno-Karabakh) solution would not be the case for Armenia’s neighbors, and what solution Armenia sees possible. In Sargsyan’s words the blame why Georgia, “a European-values promoting state”, and Turkey- “a state aspiring to Europe” do not share viewpoints, falls on “Armenia’s diplomacy”.
Meanwhile addressing the issue why EU and U.S. shared official viewpoints in contrast to Russia, Aram Sargsyan noted that “Both the United States and EU are interested in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They clearly realize actions like these ones (i.e. Safarov’s extradition) prolong that solution…States interested in the peace of the region have expressed their views…Russia is simply not interested in that…Russia is on the track of ignoring us as a state, while strategic partners are respected…”.
Stating clear the reason for this ignorance coming from Armenia, Sargsyan made precise that Armenia’s geopolitical dependence on foreign political developments decides the domestic (Armenia) status quo- “We need to balance our cooperation both with Russia and the West, we need to go for our interests”. Further noting that in the context of the region resembling a powder keg, Minsk group negotiations should have no alternative.
Touching the issue of the agenda of the “Republic” party /as once the most organized and key force in the ANC (Armenian National Congress)/ acting now separate, Sargsyan told the party to have an active participation in the upcoming presidential elections. “I am sure 2013 Armenian and 2014 Azerbaijani elections will bring changes…I’ll do everything for this to happen in Armenia…Our region needs first solve the issue of democratization, then regional integration, Karabakh and security issues in follow up…”
