Above all, he wants the Armenians to break their ties with Russia. Europe condemns both Armenia and Azerbaijan for the 2020 conflict. Beyond historical cultural relations, Yerevan seems far from any form of integration with Europe.
Moscow () – The participation of the Armenian delegation in the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) opens several interpretations on the possible development of relations between Yerevan and the Old Continent. According to the Armenian newspaper Graparakwith its participation in the forum, Armenia intended to find support for the release of the many Armenian prisoners who remained in the hands of the Azeris after the 44-day war in 2020 in Nagorno-Karabakh, which the Armenians call Artsakh.
According to representatives of the majority Armenian “Civil Contract” party, PACE parliamentarians examined the text proposed by Yerevan, warning that there will be no support or agreement until Armenia decides which side it is on, with Russia or with Europe. In fact, it is not clear on what basis the Armenians ask for support against the Azeris, without giving anything in return. Especially considering that Azerbaijan will surely not be willing to meet the demands of its adversaries for free.
Through this issue, Europe could effectively influence Yerevan to distance itself from Moscow, especially considering the support that this hypothesis arouses in a large part of the Armenian population and also in its political class. The main problem is Armenia’s economic dependence on Russia, its largest trading partner and historical protector against the Islamic countries that surround it. The country’s borders are guarded by Russian soldiers, who have established their own military base in the city of Gyumri, number 102 guarded by Armenia.
The Armenian political scientist Rovšan Ibragimov, a professor at the International University of Khankuk (Korea), commented in Azatutyun that “this information is quite contradictory and rather reflects the internal political competence of Armenia rather than the possibilities of agreement in the international arena”. Furthermore, the PACE cannot be equated with the European Union: the parliamentary assembly does not play a decisive role in these matters.”
In fact, the PACE documents of recent years referring to Nagorno-Karabakh are quite ambiguous: they condemn both the actions of Yerevan and those of Baku, and in any case they only have the character of recommendations. The members of this Assembly do not vote on behalf of the States, but of the parties to which they belong. And since Armenia is not a very populated country, it is only represented by two deputies, who are also from opposing parties.
On the other hand, beyond its limited participation in European institutions, Armenia remains a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (promoted by Russia) and the CSTO, the post-Soviet NATO controlled by Russia.
Therefore, Yerevan seems to be far from any prospect of European integration. The historical and cultural ties of the Caucasian country with Europe and the Mediterranean, which go back centuries, and the solidarity of Westerners for the memory of the Armenian genocide during the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, are maintained. However, current history imposes very different priorities
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