MP from ruling party expresses bewilderment over Moscow's passive position
YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would say not long ago that the Lachin corridor would be unblocked within a few days, but this never happened, Vigen Khachatryan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, said in the National Assembly on Friday.
The Lachin corridor, the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blockaded by Azerbaijan since December 12, 2022
"I thought Lavrov had some grounds for making such announcements, but instead Azerbaijan established a checkpoint in the corridor. The same Lavrov had said earlier that establishment of a checkpoint by Azerbaijan was completely ruled out. So I can't understand Russia's position," the MP said in a conversation with journalists.
According to him, the West, unlike Russia, does not make any commitments. It only offers a platform for Armenia and Azerbaijan to negotiate a solution to their conflict. At the same time Khachatryan confessed that his hopes, to a great extent, were associated with Moscow.
"We are strategic partners. The history of our relations goes back centuries. That is why we are bewildered by Russia's current behavior. They either don't want to or can't honor their commitments. The upcoming meetings in Moscow will show whether the Kremlin has determination or not. Is it ready to show it or not?" the MP said.
"Moscow, unlike the West, is a mediator that has made certain commitments. Consequently, expectations from a mediator should usually be much higher, because it has specific obligations. A mediator is obliged to respect the commitments it has undertaken," Khachatryan stressed.
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are meeting today in Moscow following their 4-day talks earlier this month in the USA.
Also, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Thursday that he will travel to Moscow later this month for fresh talks with Azerbaijani President that will be hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev last met on May 14 in Brussels. -0-
