Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Nikol Pashinyan is going to go on a working visit to the Russian Federation on April 1. According to the RA Government, Pashinyan’s meeting with Vladimir Putin will take place in Moscow as part of the visit.

The other day, on March 23, it became known that Pashinyan-Putin had a telephone conversation. From the message of the official Russian Kremlin, it became clear that the initiator of the conversation was the Armenian side.

According to the announcement of the RA government, the interlocutors discussed issues related to the scope of the bilateral agenda and agreed to continue the discussion in the format of a meeting on the next convenient occasion.

A few days later, in the briefing following the Government session, Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had requested a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, and the issue of transferring the South Caucasian railway concession to a third party was discussed. “I am the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and I know what kind of state the Russian Federation is, what kind of state the USA, France, Germany, and the EU are. You know, usually I ask them for a meeting and not the other way around, and that’s normal. Yes, I ask everyone to meet, and it is absolutely neither shameful nor humiliating,” he said.

Pashinyan noted that he does not remember such a meeting being initiated and not at his request. Turning to the question of whether he confirms that he raised the issue of transferring the concession of the South Caucasian Railway to a third party during the telephone conversation with Putin, Pashinyan stated that there is no deadline.

“But it’s not like it’s indefinite, we hope to find a solution to that partnership issue.”

Does it confirm that the issue of transferring the concession to the Kazakh company is being discussed? Pashinyan answered. “There is a mutual understanding between us and the Russian Federation, and the Kazakh company is acceptable to both of us… But the partners of the Russian Federation have not yet said: “Okay, we agree, let’s do this”.

Back in February, it became known that Pashinyan wants Russia to hand over the management of South Caucasian railways to a third country. He emphasized: “Due to Russia’s management of the revenue stream, we are losing our strategic positions and losing our competitive advantage.” “The solution I imagine is that such a country, which has friendly relations with both Russia and Armenia, directly buys the right of concession management from Russia,” he added.

Basically, we are talking about Kazakhstan, which has close cooperation with Azerbaijan, recently there are tendencies to close relations with Armenia as well, Kazakhstan also has normal relations with the Russian Federation.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry considered Pashinyan’s proposal strange. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the railway network of Armenia has been under the management of the “South Caucasus Railways” company for more than 20 years. He informed that during that time, the Russian company not only steadily fulfills its concession obligations, but also invests significant funds in order to modernize infrastructure and rolling stock.

“In Yerevan, however, they seem to have forgotten about this,” said the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to Maria Zakharova, “the Russian railway operator is the structure that does not deprive Armenia of competitive opportunities, but creates them.”

“As for our approach to the restoration of the two sections of the Armenian railways, going to Azerbaijan and Turkey, at the request of Yerevan, it was clearly expressed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk on February 12. We will remain loyal to that point of view,” said the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. As early as February, Yerevan appealed to Moscow to restore certain railway sections, to which Russian Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk responded positively.

168.amin a conversation with Russian analyst Konstantin Simonov said that despite the foreign policy of EU integration, which has an uncertain future, the Republic of Armenia is a member of the EAEU, and Russia remains a key partner. Therefore, according to him, the Armenian side is trying to show that there are also contacts with the Russian side, because the contacts with representatives of Brussels and Washington are frequent and intense.

“And in the case of Russia, there is a problem of maintaining contacts in the conditions of geopolitical turbulence. In addition, there are many current issues that will be discussed, both related to EAEU and railways. I think that a conversation will take place in this regard, it will be one of the key topics of this meeting, however, it is difficult to say what the outcome will be, because the Russian side has already expressed a negative position in this regard once. However, this time is a little different, because the issue will be discussed during the meeting. It should be clarified that, in my opinion, removing the Russian presence from that sphere is a geopolitical issue, not a complication for other countries from the point of view of cooperation with Armenia. And this completely fits into the framework of RA’s foreign policy in recent years,” said Simonov.

He found it difficult to say what would be the official reaction of Russia to such a request of Armenia. “I think it will become clear in a short time, or perhaps a certain general understanding was reached during the telephone conversation,” he said.

The analyst believes that this contact was not initiated by chance in this period, when Western events and high-ranking visits are expected in RA after some time.

“On the one hand, Yerevan is strengthening its relations with the West, on the other hand, in fact, it cannot ignore the existing deep relations with Moscow, especially in the economic and energy spheres. Taking all this into account, direct dialogue is maintained, but Yerevan’s political relations with the West are getting closer. Russia also has its own foreign policy objectives, Russian approaches have also changed a lot, so every issue is subject to discussion,” said Simonov.

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For several days, the international community has been trying to understand what negotiations are taking place between the United States and Iran, in what format, or whether or not negotiations are taking place at all.

It has been three days since US President Donald Trump announced that they are negotiating with Iran to end the war, while official Tehran denies the information spread by Washington at the level of all possible officials.

However, the remarkable thing is that the US President Trump, before the negotiations have even started, gives details, notes that the Secretary of State and the Vice President are involved in the negotiations, who are negotiating with the “right people” in Iran. Trump assures that Iran has refused to acquire nuclear weapons, which Iran has always stated, and also Trump declares that Tehran has made a big concession to the United States regarding the energy sector. According to him, we are talking about a valuable gift. Trump also hopes that further negotiations will be effective.

Iran’s relevant departments deny the information about the negotiations, insisting that Iran’s message is clear, they continue to defend themselves. The spokesman of the Iranian army, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, also stated that the US is negotiating with itself, and called not to call its defeat an “agreement”.

“You will no longer see your investments in the region, nor the previous prices of energy carriers and oil, until you understand that stability in the region is guaranteed by our powerful military,” said the spokesman of the Iranian army.

Western media also reported that White House officials told American media that the US had conveyed a 15-point proposal to Iran through Pakistan. Iran is reportedly being offered to dismantle three major nuclear facilities, halt uranium enrichment, limit support to its proxies, fully open the Strait of Hormuz and limit its missile program in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions, and the US will support Iran’s civilian nuclear program. Western media also say that Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan are trying to organize a meeting between the US and Iran within 48 hours. between in Islamabad. Pakistan has confirmed that it is ready to host the talks.

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, however, said that direct or indirect negotiations with the US are not underway yet, but “friendly countries” are holding consultations with the parties.

Said Jalili, the new secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, announced that after 25 days, Iran’s enemies admit that they have reached a point where Iran’s power has become obvious. “Whenever the enemy senses weakness and you get to their rear, they resort to deception and trickery to continue their operations. Previously, the enemy said: “I will not allow Iran to sell one barrel of oil.”

Now that we have fought back, even without our request, they say: “Go buy oil from Iran.” Isn’t this a manifestation of Iran’s power? We must consolidate and develop this force. The progress of our country must be consolidated and guaranteed, and this requires that anyone who tries to threaten our people repent of their threat,” Jalili stated.

While announcements and processes of negotiations do not stop, the war continues, according to Reuters, the Pentagon plans to send ground troops to the Middle East to begin a ground operation.

168.amin a conversation with Russian analyst Vladimir Yevseyev said that such asymmetric situations in international relations are quite common and often reflect a multi-layered strategy.

In his assessment, Trump’s rhetoric can be considered as a tool of diplomatic pressure.

“Talking about negotiations, Washington is trying to create a perception that Iran is forced to sit at the table, even if it does not admit it publicly. This is a psychological and political pressure on Tehran, and also creates a certain background around the war, that Iran is asking for a cease-fire, is ready for concessions, etc. Tehran’s denial also aims to neutralize the goal that the American regime pursues with these statements.

The American regime also pursues domestic political goals with this, as the war raises new grievances against President Trump in the United States every day. He is trying to maintain his political image.

It also tries to do this among its allies and partners, showing that the US is in the role of controlling the situation. However, many people understand that everything is not as it is announced,” Yevseyev said.

However, he also does not exclude, moreover, he is sure that there are attempts to approach the parties, which are done by mediators, of which there are several.

“Judging by the information, there is an intermediary, behind-the-scenes work by a third country. Another thing that is also clear is that, despite this work, Iran currently has an incomparably tougher stance than at any previous stage, and this complicates the situation for both the mediators and the US.

On the other hand, I think the US is also considering the land scenario, although it seems risky and complicated. However, Trump’s statements about the negotiations should be understood more as a strategic tool, which is an attempt to currently solve a number of problems that have arisen for the United States as a result of this war,” Yevseev said.

According to his observation, the US does not want to lose either in war operations or in the information field, suffering great image losses. “It is extremely important for a country like the United States,” he said.

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Edgar Ghazaryan and Davit Sargsyan of the “Erku front” podcast in the next edition, they discuss the financial, moral and political support of the European Union to this administration in the run-up to the upcoming national elections, under the name of fighting against fictitious “hybrid threats”, the silencing and isolation of political opponents, as well as the legal arbitrariness rampant in Armenia under the conditions of European compromise.

Details in the video

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Nikol Pashinyan threatens and blackmails the voters with his statements about the war. It is a threat, blackmail, if you will, violence against the free expression of voters. This is how he commented 168 TVof Revue on the air of the program political scientist Edgar Elbakyan Yesterday’s celebrity of Nikol Pashinyan the statement about the “September War”.

The political scientist emphasizes that it is the duty of every government, first of all, to ensure democratic, free and fair elections, rather than trying to be re-elected at any cost. Continuing his thought, Edgar Elbakyan also emphasizes that the duty of the government and power bodies is to face external threats and neutralize them, not to scare their own people with war.

Taking into account the prospect of creating a European “hybrid nation” under these conditions, especially in Armenia, the political scientist suggests to fix from now on that the elections are already rigged. But it is also an addition: if the elections are really fair, these authorities will not be re-elected.

“It’s not information, it’s a threat, blackmail, if you like, violence against the will of the voters. In general, it is the duty of any government, if it is a democratic country and the government is formed in that country through elections, to provide such conditions that people can express their will freely. If, on the contrary, being in power, you are interested in people being in such a situation, and such a situation is the threat of force from Azerbaijan, and they make an election under those conditions, then let’s record from the beginning that the elections are already rigged, like the 2021 elections.

I am now speaking on my own behalf as a political scientist, and I emphasize this because the results of the 2021 elections were finally accepted in a big sense, in a political sense,” commented the political scientist.

Edgar Elbakyan recalls the well-known events of February 2021 in Armenia, and in particular, the statement of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces led by Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Government.

“Yes, the opposition presented some complaints to the courts, etc., but in a political sense, those results were accepted. There is no problem, maybe it was true, but I don’t accept it, because a few months before those elections, the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces issued a statement that these authorities are not capable of ensuring the country’s security, and Turkey intervened in our internal affairs there, making it clear that “I will do a lot of things if there is a change of power.” That’s why the 2021 elections weren’t really fair, and these aren’t fair either, if it’s going to go at this pace, and life shows that it’s going to go at this pace, people will have to be threatened. Let’s fix from Himikvan that these are unfair competitive conditions from the beginning.”։

According to the political scientist, we all understand that war is possible at any time, but the probability is much higher under the current rulers։

“He created the precedents, he treats Armenia as he would treat a hostile country, he uses, so to speak, a “scorched earth” tactic, when you retreat from some lands, it remains behind you, but you burn it completely, poison the wells, burn the fields, cut down the fruit trees, so that whoever comes after you will be a “Pyrrhic victory”.

He himself places all those “mines” under Armenia, so that even if someone comes after him or has ambitions to come after him, they will think for a while that this person is committed to, for example, establishing 300,000 Turks, the Ramilsafarovs, in Armenia. I have almost no doubt that there were also pre-negotiations on that topic, but they agreed to deal with it after the elections. Now some oppositionist will think. “Okay, I’ll come and tell you that I don’t do them. Well, I have to say it, because doing it is suicide, and the Turks say that’s why we attack. Well, they are attacking, at least we will defend ourselves, but how can we defend ourselves if they destroyed the army as well?

In other words, he consciously “burns” the Armenian land left after him, uses “scorched earth” tactics, so that he can stand up and say: “I am your peace,” this is how the political scientist explains Pashinyan’s policy.

According to Edgar Elbakyan, “starting from 2020, we are making daily elections”, and on June 7, we are dealing not with another election and internal political struggle, but with a national-liberation struggle and the dilemma of Armenia’s existence or not. According to his interpretation, if the events proceed in a pessimistic scenario and Pashinyan is re-elected with violations, then everything will depend on how quickly and with what quality all kinds of national, public, political, and spiritual subjects will find the strength to continue the struggle, understanding that it is long-lasting. In this sense, Elbakyan considers unity of national forces and not making mistakes to be key.

“That “quick response” “hybrid” is a structure with a mandate, the leadership of Armenia invited them. They will collect a set of cases, they will announce that “we saw a fake page on Facebook, it said: vote for this person, it is a fake page, and the Facebook settings show that they are operating from Russia”, they will collect several such anecdotal cases, both scandalous, accompanied by “mask-shows”, for example, a person will be caught at the airport and they will say: “You are an agent, You have come to a choice. We didn’t understand, isn’t that person a citizen of Armenia? Deprive them of their citizenship, like the people of Artsakh, bring them, fill the country with Turks, and we will survive. And on the basis of this, they will say that “foreign intervention has taken place”, and they will already have freedom of action to commit any illegality, to arbitrarily appoint a second round or invalidate the results. The risks are very serious, and if the national forces and the opposition forces are to go to these developments divided, fragmented and internally hostile, they may not go, because there is not at all exhaustive, nor ideal, but one optimal solution against this repressive machine – unity,” Elbakyan believes.

According to the political scientist, the agenda of Pashinyan’s government is not peace, but “the vision of the death of Armenia”.

“When you say alternative program of the opposition, it implies that the government has its own vision of peace. The government does not have a vision of peace, the government has a vision of the death of Armenia, which it presents as peaceful,” Edgar Elbakyan believes.

Talking about the topic of comparing the ideas of anti-Russianness and anti-Turkishness in the Armenian reality, political scientist Edgar Elbakyan notes that anti-Russianness as a sentiment in Armenia has a long history, starting from the second half of the 19th century, parallel to the general national awakening of the Armenians, while systematic anti-Turkishness has unfortunately not occurred in recent decades in newly independent Armenia.

“For example, I and other scientists known to me have not found the origin of the expression “Armenia without Armenians”. We never found it, but instead we found that at the end of the 19th century, at the beginning of the 20th century, there was already that reference among Armenians, that the viceroy said: “Armenia without Armenians”, and many, many other things have a history of many centuries. In the last years of independence, anti-Turkey was never practiced systematically, anti-Russian was practiced by the West and partly by Turkey. Anti-Turkey was not systemic. As a general meta-level sentiment, it has existed among the people, Turk is even an offensive word, but it has never existed in a political sense,” says the political scientist.

Let’s remind that yesterday, March 19, after the regular session of the Government, in a briefing with journalists, Nikol Pashinyan once again addressed the opposition forces. called “war party”, declaring that “the forces acting from the positions of peace revision are preparing a new September war with grave consequences”. Pashinyan’s statement received a wide reaction and opposition among the Armenian opposition. In particular, MP Kristine Vardanyan of the NA opposition faction “Armenia” with the “Review” program in the interview countered him, saying that the “party of war” in Armenia is represented by Nikol Pashinyan, and Nikol Pashinyan is the leader whose rule has seen the most wars and attacks against Armenia. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, representative of the Supreme Body of the ARF Armenia, in response to Pashinyan’s stated: “Nikol, you are the symbol of defeat, war, betrayal.”

Full interview in the video.

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