What can Armenia expect from Russia?

PanARMENIAN.Net - According to the head of Mitq analytical center, Hrant Melik-Shakhnazaryan, Russia will not fulfill CSTO allied obligations, should a war break out in Karabakh. “In case of a war, Russian forces will not interfere, explaining that the clash has occurred between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan rather that between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moscow will assume a position of a peacemaker, attempting to prove herself as best in this role,” he said.

As to media reports on sale of S-300 missile to Azerbaijan, Melik-Shakhnazaryan noted that by arming RA and Azerbaijan, Russia attempts to control possible development of regional conflicts. “Russia is concerned over the possibility of Azerbaijan’s assuming pro-western position in future. This is the reason behind Moscow’s attempt to retain parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Supply of S-300 missile systems to Azerbaijan will serve the interests of Russia, guaranteeing the latter’s safety against possible challenges from East.”

Member of Heritage party Vardan Khachatryan said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Armenia may be cancelled. “The visit may be postponed till September due to forest fires in some regions of Russia, where the state of emergency was declared,” he said.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told PanARMENIAN.Net that information about cancellation of the visit is untrue.

The Armenian Public Council subcommittee for preservation of monuments and national historic values hosted a sitting during which the subcommittee urged RA and Diaspora Armenians to refrain from participating in the event organized by Turkish authorities at Surb Khach Armenian Church in Akhtamar island on September 19. “In his address to subcommittee, the head of Van-Vaspurakan expatriates’ community labeled the event as Turkey’s political provocation, calling on Armenians to refrain from participating,” subcommittee chairperson Jasmine Asryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “The subcommittee joins in with the address, believing this to be a matter of honor for the entire Armenian nation.”

As RA Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan told PanARMENIAN.Net the MFA did not receive any official invitation for the liturgy in Surb Khach Church in Akhtamar island due on September 19.

Commenting on the forthcoming event, ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office director Kiro Manoyan noted that Ankara doesn’t view the liturgy in Surb Khach Armenian Church in Akhtamar island as a religious event. “It will be nothing but a Turkish show with participation of Armenians,” he said. “Ankara is not going to use the opportunity for normalization of relations with Armenia.”

As to Armenian-Russian relations, Manoyan believes that these have intensified as compared to past years. “The uncertainty in bilateral relations was caused by a new RA government-initiated policy. However, extension of Russian military base deployment terms in Gyumri proves activation of Armenian-Russian ties,” he noted. “Russia is attempting to strike a balance between military collaboration with Armenia and Azerbaijan as a way towards Karabakh conflict settlement. However, Russia's sole activity in the region can be dangerous. U.S. and Europe's involvement is also necessary in preserving regional stability,” Manoyan concluded.