Armenian press mulls implications of St Petersburg meeting for Karabakh

The following is a selection of quotes from articles and commentaries published in the 22 June editions of Armenian newspapers:


St Petersburg meeting unproductive for Karabakh


Zhamanak (pro-opposition): "Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin announced that work is being done to put into operation the Abkhaz railway and this important direction could reopen for Armenia. Ivan Volynkin's statement comes after the St Petersburg meeting [on Karabakh] and after [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan's visit to St Petersburg, where he met not only [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev, but also held a meeting with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And after these two meetings, the Russian ambassador's statement on the Abkhaz railway is rather noteworthy. There is an impression that Russia is trying to feed Armenia with the Abkhaz railway candy against the background of the St Petersburg meeting. ... The question is why Russia is again taking this fake candy out of its pocket, making some statements about prospects for opening the Abkhaz railway, which are as real as, for instance, prospects for opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. As is known, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border is directly linked to the Karabakh issue, and it is so worn-out that it is not used as an argument any more. In fact, is this not an attempt to use a new argument in the shape of the Abkhaz railway in the game now? Does Moscow take this fake candy out of its pocket to extort anything from Armenia in this period of Russia's becoming more active in the Karabakh issue?" (Editorial headlined "Russia's candy for Armenia", p. 1)


Zhoghovurd (pro-opposition): "On the whole, if after the Vienna meeting [on Karabakh] certain accents were still being made, which reminded of the four-day war [early April hostilities in Karabakh] with hundreds of casualties, now there is an impression from the statements made after the St Petersburg meeting that they refer to the meetings, which have been taking place for years before the April events, after which the sides again use such definitions as 'constructive', 'useful', and 'positive', expressing hope each time that the next meeting will be a step forward. However, it is obvious that the St Petersburg meeting could not be such first of all because after the April events, Azerbaijan's stance has unprecedentedly sharpened since it presents the occupied 800 ha of land as a great victory and does not want to hear anything about mutual concessions, and despite all this diplomatic pretence, Azerbaijan is openly preparing for a new war. And not to see this simply means to be blind. And seeing and understanding all this but not taking any essential steps is an obvious and planned treason". (Editorial headlined "Dangerous calmness", p. 1)


Hraparak (pro-opposition): "By shaking hands in St Petersburg, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev finally closed the issue of the 800 ha [Azerbaijan seized in Karabakh during the recent tensions]. It can be said that the sides, together with Putin, agreed that these 800 ha were passing to Azerbaijan. Another important point of the St Petersburg meeting is that Aliyev was allowed to decide on the day and hour of the next war. And it was done rather smoothly - Aliyev was given time to arm better and to better prepare for the next war, if the OSCE's international observers, even with their increased number, and the Minsk Group co-chairmen, who have completely discredited themselves, continue their tourist mission to the region and back instead of returning the 'occupied' territories to Azerbaijan. It becomes clear that Aliyev agreed to gain time, which was imposed on him by Putin's and Sargsyan's so-called peace-loving appeals. Have you noticed the delicate moment? You have probably noted this phrase in the joint statement: 'They have expressed their satisfaction over the preservation of the recent ceasefire on the front line'. Can you imagine this? Three adults express satisfaction that there is relative peace on the front line and one of these three people is the person who was giving orders yesterday to use mass destruction weapons against the opponent. We are speaking about Aliyev. And now he expresses satisfaction over the fact that he does not give orders to shoot anymore". (Article by Edik Andreasyan headlined "'Strasburg's beautiful lady' and the trio's statement", p. 5)

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