Turkey and Azerbaijan Attempt to Extract Concessions from Armenia through Border Pressure – Expert

Azerbaijan and Turkey are trying to achieve territorial concessions from Armenia as well as concessions regarding the status of Artsakh by increasing pressure on the state border through military provocations. This opinion was expressed today during a conversation with reporters by Ruben Safrastyan, acting director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. This was reported by Sputnik Armenia.

"This is a case where the CSTO should seriously consider Armenia's proposal to deploy a monitoring mission at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. If this organization fails again to perform its core functions for which it was created, then its future will be seriously questioned," the expert noted.

At the same time, he emphasized the proposal by Frank Pallone, a member of the Democratic Party of the USA, to halt U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. According to the expert, this is a signal that the U.S. may reconsider its position towards Azerbaijan, as it is gradually becoming more aggressive and authoritarian.

However, Safrastyan considers the decisions of the Senate and the presidential administration to be more crucial in this matter. "For various reasons, Congress objectively assesses the situation and Azerbaijan's behavior, but, unfortunately, the White House does not honestly respond to the signals coming from there," the academician noted, recalling Azerbaijan's oil resources, which are important for the West.

It should be noted that on July 28, Azerbaijani armed forces once again provoked a military incident and violated the ceasefire in the northeastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to cease fire through the mediation of Moscow.