SERZH SARGSYAN IS RUSSIA’S FIELD COMMANDER
Azadliq
April 11 2008
Azerbaijan
Zardust Alizada: ‘If Armenia’s masters advise it that it is necessary
to unite Karabakh with Azerbaijan, Yerevan will also take this step’
Representatives of influential international organizations, officials
of other democratic states attended the inauguration of new Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan the day before yesterday [9 April]. These
all gave birth to a host of questions. Our first question to
political expert Zardust Alizada was also about reasons for such a
representation. We have to bear in mind that similar ceremonies in
countries like Armenia are not attended by high-ranking officials
of big states. To a certain extend, Russia may be represented by a
high-ranking official to demonstrate its support to Armenia.
[Correspondent] Putin has already expressed his intention to take up
the post of prime minister after his term in office expires.
Nevertheless, Robert Kocharyan has not made public whether or not he
will take a post in the future government. Given this, if Kocharyan
intends to influence the future government, how will he achieve this?
[Alizada] Kocharyan is an agent of Russia. Serzh Sargsyan is also
Russia’s agent. These men are politicians under Russia’s control. It
is possible for Kocharyan to be involved in the future government
to a certain extent to help Serzh Sargsyan in his activities. It is
also not convincing that any confrontation may crop up in relations
between the former leader and the incumbent president. At the same
time, Kocharyan and Sargsyan are united by a single enemy who is
the people of Armenia. However, the likelihood of the Russian option
being repeated in Armenia is high.
[Correspondent] The Armenian parliament is planning to adopt a special
statement with regard to Nagornyy Karabakh. The statement will envisage
Armenia’s possible steps should Azerbaijan attack Karabakh. Moreover,
[Armenian Speaker] Tigran Torosyan has said that it was realistic in
prospective for Armenia to annex Karabakh.
[Alizada] This statement and a decision in the pipeline are one of
the steps to be taken by Armenia. Armenia wants to use them as means
of pressure. Naturally, there are positive and negative aspects
of annexing Karabakh by Armenia. However, Armenia is waiting for
appropriate conditions to emerge before resorting to this way.
Actually, debates around Armenia’s annexation of Karabakh have always
been on the agenda. Simply, masters of Yerevan have not advised her
to do so. But if Armenia is advised that Karabakh should be united
to Azerbaijan, this step would be taken.
[Correspondent] Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan made
clear that he was not planning to be involved in the new Armenian
government. In your opinion, what might be behind this statement?
Some people explain this by Armenia’s new line to be taken for the
resolution of the Karabakh problem.
[Alizada] Obviously, Vardan Oskanyan knows very well that there is
another candidate to replace him. Therefore, he is quitting his post
voluntarily. I do not believe Serzh Sargsyan will take a different
line with regard to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
Because, the current Armenian president is a field commander of
Russia and Russia’s aim is obvious. The Karabakh conflict should
be frozen to acquire a long-term mechanism to influence the South
Caucasus. Karabakh will neither be given to Armenia nor Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] A union between Russia and Armenia is again on the
agenda. This time it was aired by a deputy speaker of the State Duma.
In his turn, the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan said that there
were forces against such a union.
[Alizada] The post of deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma is not
such an influential position. The Russia-Armenia union has been in
existent for a long time. Armenia is Russia’s subordinate. Armenia is
a state dependent on Russia militarily, politically and economically.
And it is not that important to formalize this union. They have signed
enough documents on bilateral cooperation.