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Speaking to Panorama.am http://www.panorama.am/en/, political scientist Tigran Abrahamyan analyzes the meeting of August 10 between presidents of Armenia and Russia, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin.

Panorama.am – The NK conflict negotiations were the key topic during the high-level meeting between Armenia and Russia in Moscow. Would you comment on the meeting and its outcomes? Also rumours concerning new documents on the table are constantly circulated.
Tigran Abrahamyan – The Russian Federation plays an active part in the NK negotiations, as well as the regional processes. Despite the wide range of topics included on the agenda, the key issue was that of NK negotiations process.

Currently the most important thing in the process is the implementation of agreements reached during Vienna and St. Petersburg summits.

It is, first and foremost, the unconditional implementation of the trilateral ceasefire agreement of 1994-1995, the establishment of investigation mechanisms on the Line of Contact [between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan] and the expansion of the missions of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Moreover, without realizing these agreements it’s hard to speak about the resumption of the negotiations, let alone progress. The meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents after the April events are aimed at creating the necessary ground for the resumption of the negotiations.
Currently there are problems in that respect, because Azerbaijan refuses to implement the agreements, most importantly, establishment of investigation mechanism, thus casting doubt on the possibility of resumption of the negotiations.

Panorama.am – During the press conference following the meeting of Armenian and Russian presidents, the issue of military supplies to Armenia was also raised. Eventually, why was it delayed?
Tigran Abrahamyan – On presidential level, Russia has assured that as Armenia’s ally and a CSTO partner, it properly implements the undertaken obligations. I think the April War made certain corrections in the contract. I do not rule out that earlier changes were introduced in the list of arms, and this is the reason for concerns related to the supplies.

On the other hand, understandably this process isn’t made public and it’s a bit difficult to thoroughly analyze the situation, especially since no one knows when it had to start and end, were there any delays or are these just worries conditioned by the outbreak of a new war.

Panorama.am – Turkish FM, Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that the Nagorno Karaakh issue may be discussed within the framework of Azerbaijan-Turkey-Russia format. What dangers does it involve?
Tigran Abrahamyan – Turkey announces about the formation of a regional security platform for one, then about its willingness to become an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, and now this. In short, I think this statement is not serious, because even if a meeting is held in such format, it couldn’t have a significant effect on the process. I repeat, IF such meeting is held, which I seriously doubt.

Panorama.am – During the press conference, after the meeting between presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president stated that they should find such a solution where there would be neither winners nor losers. The part concerning no losers is clear. But why not win? Or if one of the parties is “diseased”, how can you make sure that it doesn’t feel defeated.
Tigran Abrahamyan – This statement of the Russian president should be considered as the logic of a mediator. For avoiding biased views, the primary task of a mediator country is to maintain neutrality, where there are neither winners nor losers.
In order to achieve this, both countries should first and foremost prepare their people for peace, not war. Otherwise, the “diseased” party will feel defeated.