By all accounts Russian President Vladimir Putin has been having a good week. And, it’s only Tuesday.
On Monday, he and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev were all smiles after discussing the Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh/NKR) conflict, following which they met with their Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. The three leaders, two of whom—Iran and Russia–
Or, subscribe now for unlimited access
By submitting your email address you agree for Hairenik Association, Inc. to send you communication by email.
Already a subscriber?Log in here
This story is FREE for you...
Create a free account to access this and four more articles, and get more sent to you with our e-newsletter.By submitting your email address you agree for Hairenik Association, Inc. to send you communication by email.
Armenians in the Diaspora have absolutely NOT RIGHT to demand ANYTHING. It is Armenians of Artsakh and to a lesser extent Armenians of Armenia that have the right to make a decision about land concessions. In the end, I believe Artsakhtsis have the courage and the foresight to agree to land concessions IF doing so will lead to genuine peace between the two nations. However, Armenia’s red line has to be Artsakh proper and the region between Armenia and Artsakh. The “five territories” can be returned if Baku recognizes Artsakh’s independence. We have to settle the dispute. Another 25 years of the geopolitical climate we have had during the previous 25 years will sink Armenia hopelessly deeper into a third world existence. The south Caucasus region desperately needs peace and stability for it to develop economically. If the powers that be (primarily Russia) can guarantee that land concessions will bring lasting peace, then so be it. Reminder: Even almighty Israel was forced by its American allies to concede lands to Egyptians and Palestinians.
It’s true that President Sarkisian deserves universal respect, and his measures to cement a lasting friendship with Russia is a great achievement. But, Armenians, from the diaspora, can state their viewpoints via international forums for discussions, and the internet, without seeking to enforce their ideas as anything that resembles a “demand” for action.
There’s an intellectual wealth in the Armenian diaspora, as well as a financial wealth, but the Armenian homeland doesn’t seem to appreciate it, or even welcome it.
All of the area, currently controlled by the Armenian stronghold in Karabakh, has strategic value, and ensures the security for the people in the Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh. The weakening of Armenia’s strategic military positions is a dangerous game to play for the price of peace.
Fine, but Azerbaijan does not really want peace, nor does it want Artsakh to even get autonomy, never mind independence.
It wants to create conditions such that it can eventually conquer Artsakh and expel or kill its Armenians. That is the Azeri plan.
Azeris, like Turks, are liars and are out for blood.
That makes it hard to deal with them.
If Azeris come back to Artsakh for example, they’ll use it to start a civil war and Azerbaijan will use that as an excuse to attack.
These are the things Armenians have to consider when you deal with Azeris and Turks. They are always out for blood.
“From where I am sitting, Sarkisian will go to Moscow to get pressured from an ally who is acting more like feudal lord, as Putin tightens the noose around Armenia, while also tightening its grip on the region.”
If this piece was thought of as a foreign policy analysis, it has come out as a newspaper article. As foreign policy analysis, it has fundamental flaws. I don’t know where the author is sitting, but in order to summarize his article as he did with this last sentence one must be sitting next to presidents Sargsyan and Putin. What tentative data or evidence has prompted the author’s conclusion that Sargsyan is going to Moscow “to get pressured from Putin” and that “Putin tightens the noose around Armenia”? The author has shown nothing in the article to support this speculation. In foreign policy analysis even a speculation needs to be substantiated, while emotional fervor and sophistry, such as “Putin acts like feudal lord” or “Putin tightens the noose around Armenia”, are simply unbecoming. In fact, nothing was reported to give us cause for concern that Putin “tightens the noose” around Armenia. Erdogan flew to Russia to make a curtsey to Putin and mend fences after the Russian Su-24 shootdown. Putin’s trilateral meeting with Aliyev and Rouhani was mostly focused on economic and regional cooperation issues. While his meeting with Sargsyan, based on preliminary reports, showed no signs of “tightening the noose” around Armenia.
Very sensible comments by Harutik. Complements. Such a constructive move might help convince Turkey to open its borders with Armenia.
Armenia is best served in its current capacity, as Russia’s ally and friend. President Sarkisian has taken a mature approach to his diplomacy with Russia. He should be commended for it.
Armenia isn’t excluded from Russia’s list of important allies, when Putin makes diplomatic overtures to Turkey’s President Erdogan, and Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev. Signed treaty alliance papers establish a military alliance between Armenia and Russia; these signed papers guarantee that Russian troops will help defend Armenia’s border with Turkey, until 2044.
This isn’t the time for the people of Armenia to create civil disturbances, which could destabilize and jeopardize Armenian sovereignty. Naturally, Armenia as a landlocked country, will be impacted by the hostility of Turkey and Azerbaijan, and the indifference of Georgia, with only Iran taking a benevolent role (among the countries that share borders with Armenia).
Serzh Sargsyan is having a great week as well.
He doesn’t even have to think about what to do, he just has to fly to Moscow to receive word from the great man himself, senor putin.
Afterward, he can visit Brazil for an ‘official working trip.’ he can have a great time in casinos, the women and watch some olympic games. It seems fine to spend money and increase national debt, while continuing to oversee a steady decline and disappearance of the basic social services that a goverment should provide, ranging from healthcare, garbage disposal, military procurement and otherwise.
private jets to brazil and hotels are expensive, especially during olympics.
Mr Putin needs to remember that any loss to “Russia’s strategic partner” will amount to a loss for Russia in the long run. Russia can not rely on a long term friendly relations with Turkey or Azerbaijan but it can count on Armenia.
To the first post, Armenians from the diaspora are the descendants of genocide survivors from Armenia proper (Western and parts of Eastern). Their parents and grandparents did not choose to relocate from Armenia for a better life; it was a matter of fleeing to survive or die or become muslim. Many of them have devoted their lives to the Armenian cause. Some fom lebanon and the US have even gone to fight in the fist Artsakh War. The descendants of genocide survivors have every right to give their opinions. They are not demanding anything. They only want and pray for the best for Armenian and Artsakh. Ultimately, the fate of the country lies in the hands of the people who live there.
Nobody plays better chess game, than Putin, until somebody checkmate him in South Caucasus!