The separatists are strengthening their positions with military and technical means, essentially preparing for another armed confrontation with Azerbaijan.
“Even those who pretend not to see are aware that the separatists are strengthening their armed groups in order to oppose Azerbaijan more ‘effectively’,” political analyst Ilgar Velizade told Minval.az, commenting on the situation.
Speaking about France’s policy in the region as well as the French Foreign Minister’s recent statements regarding the Lachin corridor, the analyst said Paris still believes that with this policy they can act as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“The once great French diplomacy, with its deep roots and traditions, has plummeted to an amateur level. The main narrative of France is ‘we will not leave Armenia and Armenians alone with Azerbaijan’. This is not moderating and playing a role of a buffer between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Armenians in general. If the French Foreign Minister comes to Baku with this attitude, no one will hear her here and there is no point in her coming to Baku,” the expert said.
The analyst added that France is guided here not by common sense, but by emotions, trying to show its Armenian “sister” that it is there for it. This is not professional diplomacy.
“If she uses the same tone and the same narrative in Baku, she will be told how she can and cannot talk to Azerbaijan, but this will ruin the already damaged diplomatic relations with France,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in the region, Velizade said that the Armenians and their patrons hope that in the event of another war they will be able to push a resolution through the UN Security Council and bring peacekeepers here by force.
“Their goal is to reignite the conflict, and then to internationalize it through international institutions such as the UN, the OSCE and so on. As practice shows, no conflict is resolved where these organizations set foot. This is exactly what they are counting on, keeping the conflict alive,” said the political scientist.
The analyst added that the overall geopolitical situation in the region is too tense.
“There is a situation with Iran, which is also trying to be active in the region. Tehran is trying to involve Yerevan in the game on its side against Azerbaijan. According to them, this is their way of resisting Israeli-American plans in the South Caucasus region, and they see Azerbaijan as an active participant in these processes. In order to oppose Azerbaijan, Iran needs Armenia. In reality, all this is an excuse to drag Armenia into their regional squabbles against Azerbaijan,” Velizade explained.
Nijat Hajiyev
Translated from Minval.az
