Author: Anna Tamamian

YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia’s prime minister on Tuesday accused a Moscow-dominated security alliance of leaving his country in the cold in the face of a threat of renewed hostilities with neighboring Azerbaijan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been repeatedly critical of what he described as the failure of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, to protect member Armenia amid a standoff with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia, which has sought to preserve strong ties with its ally Armenia while also maintaining friendly relations with energy-rich Azerbaijan, has engaged in a delicate diplomatic balancing act, avoiding any forceful action. The Kremlin’s clout in the region has become more limited as Russia has focused its resources on the war in Ukraine.

Pashinyan said at a news conference that it wasn’t Armenia that is pulling out of the CSTO, but, on the contrary, “the CSTO is pulling out of Armenia, whether it wishes so or not.”

“We are concerned about that,” Pashinyan said.

He emphasized that “the threat of escalation along Armenia’s border and in Nagorno-Karabakh is very high now,” noting “increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Azerbaijan.”

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan soared in December when Azerbaijani protesters claiming to be environmental activists blocked the so-called Lachin corridor, the main road between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, leaving its 120,000 residents short of food and other basic supplies. Last month, the United Nations’ highest court ordered Azerbaijan to allow the resumption of free movement along the road, but the situation has remained tense.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. In 2020, Azerbaijani troops routed Armenian forces in six weeks of fighting that ended with a Russia-brokered peace deal allowing Azerbaijan to take a significant part of Nagorno-Karabakh and reclaim nearby areas which had been in Armenian hands for nearly two decades.

During the latest standoff, Pashinyan and other Armenian officials strongly criticized Russia and the Moscow-dominated CSTO for the failure to ensure a free transit via the Lachin corridor.

Reflecting its irritation with Moscow, Armenia has canceled a planned military exercise by CSTO members set for this year and refrained from naming its representative to the bloc’s leadership.

Pashinyan said that he raised Armenian concerns about the situation during a call on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and mentioned a recent protest staged by Nagorno-Karabakh residents in front of Russian peacekeepers’ headquarters.

Amid the tensions between Moscow and Yerevan, Armenian authorities denied entry to Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russian state-funded RT television, media manager Aram Gabrelyanov and Russian lower house member Konstantin Zatulin, who have been critical of Pashinyan’s leadership. Asked about the move, Pashinyan said they have shown disrespect to Armenia, which is entitled to use the tools it sees fit to “prevent actions against its interests.”

The Armenian leader noted “objective problems” in relations with the Kremlin, but said that he doesn’t think that they have grown into a crisis.

In another sign of his irritation with Moscow, Pashinyan said that Armenia would welcome other countries, such as the United States and Germany, to help broker peace talks with Azerbaijan.

He also noted that “the existing security architecture didn’t work,” adding that Yerevan was taking efforts to “establish military-technical cooperation with many other countries.”

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2023-03-14/armenian-prime-minister-moscow-security-pact-9491510.html

 Mohammad Ali

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the implementation of the agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, including steps to ensure security at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Kremlin said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 13th March, 2023) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the implementation of the agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, including steps to ensure security at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Kremlin said on Monday.

“At the initiative of the Armenian side, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The practical aspects of the implementation of the entire range of well-known agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020-2022 were considered, including steps to ensure stability and security in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Additionally, Putin stressed the need to resolve all emerging issues in a constructive manner and in close contact and interaction of the parties with Russian peacekeepers, the statement added.

Tehran has become a hub for Armenian nationalists who have lost their political bases in Yerevan and Moscow. One of the key players in this development is the Dashnaktsutyun party, which has organized events and seminars in Tehran with the help of Iranian organizations such as the Hoosk Institute. This situation poses a significant threat to regional peace and stability.

Iran’s support for Armenian nationalism is not new. Tehran has long supported Armenia in countering Azerbaijan, a strategic ally of Iran’s regional rival, Turkey. However, Iran’s support for Armenian nationalism is reaching new heights to counter the growing awakening among Azerbaijanis and other ethnic groups in Iran.

Tehran’s support for Armenian nationalism is not only a threat to Azerbaijan but also to regional peace and stability. Iran’s actions undermine ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have made significant progress in recent years. Its support for Armenian nationalists risks re-igniting tensions in the region and could lead to another round of conflict.

However, Tehran’s support for Armenian nationalism is not limited to political and diplomatic support. Several reports indicate that Iran has provided military and financial assistance to Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Iran has been supplying arms and ammunition to Armenian forces and allowing Armenia to use its territory to transport military supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, which Azerbaijan condemned.

Furthermore, Iran has been accused of interfering in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and supporting separatist movements in its provinces bordering Iran. Azerbaijan has condemned Iran’s support for Armenia and called for the international community to take action against Iran’s regional interference.

The policy of enmity with Azerbaijan is implemented at the highest level in the Iranian regime. Recent events, such as the “Caucasus geopolitical equations, regional and extra-regional role players” meeting hosted by the Hor Institute affiliated with the Decimation Party, further highlight Iran’s support for Armenian nationalism. The meeting was attended by well-known figures and covered by state media, indicating the regime’s active role in supporting these groups.

Iran’s motivations for supporting Armenia against Azerbaijan are complex and multifaceted. One of the most significant reasons for Tehran’s support of Armenia against Azerbaijan is its concern about the increasing level of national consciousness among South Azerbaijanis, who comprise about one-third of Iran. Tehran fears that the spread of Azerbaijani nationalism could destabilize the country and lead to greater autonomy or secession demands. By supporting Armenia, Iran may be attempting to distract attention from the plight of South Azerbaijanis and prevent the spread of nationalism in Iran. However, this support risks exacerbating tensions with Azerbaijan and undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

The Armenian government must recognize that Iran is not a genuine friend and is using Armenia to further its ambitions and destabilize the region. The Armenian government must distance itself from Iranian support for nationalist groups and instead work towards peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. Meanwhile, the international community must monitor Tehran’s activities in the region and take measures to prevent further destabilization.

Iran’s support for Armenian nationalists significantly threatens regional peace and stability. The international community must remain vigilant and take necessary actions to prevent further regional destabilization.

[Image by P. S. Burton, via Wikimedia Commons]

Babek Chalabi is a South Azerbaijani activist based in Washington DC; Chalabi also is the founder of ArazNews.org. He tweets at @BabekChelebi. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect TGP’s editorial stance.

https://thegeopolitics.com/tehrans-support-for-armenian-nationalists-a-threat-to-regional-peace/