Levon Ter-Petrosyan: "Reduced influence of Russia in the Caucasus proves the soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict not in Armenia's favor"

Ter-Petrosyan considers that the external policy of powers puts the state interests of Armenia under threat. He considers that in the established situation West will not miss a chance to settle the conflict and it will occur in conditions when trying to prove his legitimacy, Serzh Sargsyan is rushing for West, simultaneously obeying the policy of the latter and driving Russia out of the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict.

Explaining the actions of once pro-Russian Sargsyan for changing the orientation, Ter-Petrosyan noted that "Russia does not have to prove something to him and he does not expect something from Russia, so his main task is to attain West's favor. What can Sargsyan offer to the West? Armenia has no natural resources.

It has nothing except a state interest and the president has chosen the way of sacrificing the state interests.

At the same time, the leader of the Armenian opposition said that he is against any orientation, as it leads to bitter results, like in Georgia's case. He noted that when being a president he conducted a balanced policy, while Kocharyan chose a complementary one and the difference is only in terminology.

"The aforementioned facts and reduced influence of Russia in the Caucasus after recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia prove the soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict not in Armenia's favor", noted Petrosyan.

He said Sargsyan was provided with a deadline to fulfill his pledges on the Karabakh settlement until PACE January session. Ter-Petrosyan lists the way, which will allow to preserve Armenian statehood: soften the sociopolitical tensions in the country, improve relations with Russia and eliminate all differences, paying special attention to the Karabakh issue, which means that Armenian powers should spare no efforts for specifying the issue about possible referendum in Karabakh.

He noted that Armenia should refuse to represent the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" in the talks and demand involvement of Khankendi as a party in the negotiation process.

/ARMENIA-Today/