Is Russia taking pro-Turkish unilateral steps in Syunik detrimental to Armenia’s sovereignty, leaving Minks Group Co-Chairs U.S. and France out?
Posted on June. 2. 2021
BY APPO JABARIAN
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
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On Monday May 31, President of France Emmanuel Macron told caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Paris: “In this difficult situation where Armenia has appeared, France stands with Armenia as always. … Today Armenia has encountered a serious security crisis. Since the declaration of November 9 that put an end to the military operation in Karabakh, analyzing the situation with Mr. Pashinyan we note that even though the ceasefire is generally respected, there is still much to be done. And France is ready to provide assistance for the benefit of the population, … about the release of all the hostages, including war prisoners and other detainees.”
Pres. Macron emphasized “the necessity for preserving the cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabakh and its surrounding regions, which must be done unconditionally.” And as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair country, together with the USA and Russia, it’s the duty of France to make all efforts to reach a de-escalation and establish dialogue between the sides. … The Azerbaijani forces should withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia and I call on the sides to return to their initial positions. We talked with Mr. Pashinyan also about economic cooperation, clarified partnership in some spheres.”
Acting PM Pashinyan expressed appreciation saying “France and Armenia have unique relations and it’s very important to record that during this period the Armenian people, the Republic of Armenia have always felt the support of France and personally President Macron. I want to underline a very important factor, which is that President Macron spoke the truth since the first day of the crisis in our region and his voice was heard all over the world.”
PM Pashinyan noted that “the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs are extremely important for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue and regional crises; for the establishment of lasting peace and stability. I am very glad that the Co-chairs have already made three statements since the end of the war, by which they, in fact, record their readiness to be involved and restore the negotiations over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue.
In early Dec. 2020, France’s National Assembly in an almost unanimous vote recognized Artsakh and condemned Azerbaijan and Turkey for their unprovoked aggression against Armenia and Artsakh. That followed an earlier vote by the French Senate, which similarly recognized Artsakh and condemned Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Caretaker PM Pashinyan should move full speed forward seeking U.N. action to place UN peacekeeping forces consisting of all three OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries’ armed forces on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ever since the forced capitulation of Armenia into signing the infamous Nov. 9, 2020 statement in order to stop the unprovoked Turkish-Azerbaijani-ISIS terrorists’ anti-Armenia 44-day aggression, a new question has surfaced: Is Russia taking pro-Turkish unilateral steps in Southern Syunik region mostly detrimental to Armenia’s sovereignty leaving OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs U.S. and France out? Genocidal Turkey and Azerbaijan are continuing their state policy to extinct Armenia as a sovereign state. Will they be assisted by Russia in destroying Armenia?
But what happened to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group’s two other co-chairs, the United States and France? OSCE Minsk Group’s Minsk Process, is designed to spearhead OSCE’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is co-chaired by France, the Russian Federation, and the United States.
Can American Armenians and French Armenians create political vehicles that can help the two other OSCE Minsk Group co-chair nations — United States and France optimize their political, military and economic relations with Armenia? If a positive answer emerges, then the sky can be the limit!
Armenia’s resourceful Diaspora should intensify its unconditional but well-thought-out support of Yerevan and Stepanakert and make clear to the international community that the twin Armenian republics are not left to their destiny.
As a sovereign state, Armenia reserves the right to further develop its own economic alliances with neighboring Iran and Georgia without Russian interference and acts of sabotage by Armenia’s fifth column embodied by the former regime kleptocratic oligarchs. The former regime kleptocrats — former presidents Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan and their agents inside the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II, his blood brother Arch. Yezras of Moscow, Arch. Hovnan Derderian of Los Angeles should not be allowed to hinder Armenia’s progress as a vibrant democracy and a formidable economic and military regional power.
World Armenians should do everything within their power to help Armenia establish itself as “The Tiger of the Caucasus.”
Unfortunately Putin is not to be trusted. He has never been a man of his words. All Putin will support what is politically expedient to Russia, hence his desire to please Aliyev and Erdogan.