“Zhoghovurd” speculates that the renewed rapprochement between Russia and Turkey will have a serious influence on Russian efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The paper claims that Moscow thinks that Azerbaijan is central to its efforts to form a new “axis” with Turkey and Iran. Armenia, by contrast, stands in the way of that geopolitical realignment. Therefore, it says, Wednesday’s meeting in Moscow between the Armenian and Russian presidents “cannot promise us anything good.” It says that Serzh Sarkisian’s resignation is the only way to neutralize unilateral Armenian concessions to Azerbaijan sought by Vladimir Putin.
Lragir.am similarly claims that Russia regards Azerbaijan as a “bridge” to Iran and Turkey and that Putin may press Sarkisian to make territorial concessions to Baku. The online publication says that the Russian pressure on Armenia will not necessarily work because it is not supported by the United States and the European Union. It says Moscow must also reckon with the fact that most Armenians and the Armenian military are opposed to a unilateral withdrawal from any of the districts around Karabakh.
“Hraparak” says that Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev “once again demonstrated their warm personal rapport” at their meeting in Baku on Monday. The paper suggests that Sarkisian flew to Moscow to inquire about details of Putin’s talks with Aliyev related to the Karabakh conflict.
Interviewed by “Aravot,” Vladimir Karapetian, a senior member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), says that by announcing new joint economic projects Baku and Moscow are exerting “additional indirect pressure on Armenia.” He says that this pressure is aimed at forcing Yerevan to make more concessions in ongoing Karabakh peace talks.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports that the Armenian government plans to spend 17.5 million drams ($37,000) on the reconstruction of a museum of Russian-Armenian friendship located in the town of Abovian. The paper says that the allocation is expected to be formally approved at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
(Tigran Avetisian)