Turkey Remains the "Joker" in the Game, Desired by Both Russia and the West: Ashotyan on the Trilateral Meeting

Armen Ashotyan, Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia, wrote on his Facebook page: "After yesterday's trilateral meeting, the resulting statement did not contain a single clause that serves Armenia's national interests, raising the question: what to expect from Brussels? Let me briefly present my opinion.

1. As I predicted, Moscow did not miss its first violin role and organized its own meeting under its auspices before the announced Brussels meeting.

2. The Russian President's remarks about the Brussels meeting indicate that Russia's positions in the region are so strong that it has no reason to stage any scenes of jealousy.

3. No serious, especially pro-Armenian outcome should be expected from the European meeting. The main global issues—demarcation and communications—have already been discussed in Sochi.

4. The EU has only one weapon that Russia does not possess—"human rights and democracy"—with which it could be more stringent towards Azerbaijan if it wished. However, on the one hand, EU interests do not imply the use of a sanctions toolkit against Aliyev, while on the other hand, the figures representing Armenia have not raised such issues for a year. If Nikol has "forgiven" Aliyev, why should Brussels be more Catholic?

5. Regardless of the Russia-EU tension, the interests of both players still align here. With a stable environment and logistical possibilities, the South Caucasus, for different reasons, corresponds to the visions of both.

6. The "joker" in this game remains Turkey, which both Russia and the West desire to ultimately bring into their own beds.

7. At most, what will happen in Brussels is the release of a few of our soldier captives from Baku's prisons, and that, if Brussels takes initiative and Yerevan applies pressure in that direction.

P.S. One should not be upset with the world. This is how nations that have lost their dignity are treated. Nikol is the witness."