Lavrov's Statement: If You Don't Place Us in a Position, What Do You Expect from Us? - Sargsyan

Any external force cannot do anything without internal support. This was stated today, on May 21, by the Third President Serzh Sargsyan during a conversation with journalists after leaving the court, commenting on the question of whether external forces' support should be expected in the context of regime change in Armenia.

“Yes, support from external forces is very important, but I do not see that support being sufficient. However, I am confident that if we enter the struggle with all our might, there will definitely be different forces and people from various continents and places that will support this movement. I have no doubt about that,” he said.

Commenting on the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said it is unfair to accuse them of handing over Artsakh, as they learned about this from the media, Sargsyan responded: “I do not think Lavrov's statement was a call to action. No, I do not consider it that way; I find that statement to be justified. After all, if they are our allies, and if they were negotiating in a trilateral format, and we have witnessed these trilateral negotiations for years, then when they go to another location and make another statement, shouldn't one of the parties to those negotiations say, ‘If you do not place us in a position, what do you expect from us?’”

When asked whether he could achieve success in security and Artsakh-related issues if he came to power, the third president said, “I have no ambition or desire to come to power. I am saying that I will not be involved. If anyone, any political force comes and I see that this political force is working for the benefit of Armenia, and if they need my advice, I can merely act as an advisor, considering my experience. If not, then I think it’s time for me to focus a little more on myself, enjoying rest and other conditions.”

Regarding the possibility of significant changes in Artsakh's situation after a regime change, Sargsyan noted: “Nothing can ever be excluded. In the 1930s and 1940s, various leaders of Armenia appealed to Moscow in writing about connecting Karabakh with Armenia, but the broader public has never particularly engaged with this issue because many considered it final. If there are individuals or political forces that will keep this idea alive, I am confident that one day there will be powers interested in this idea, even outside Armenia, and it may become a reality.”

Today, even if the leadership of Azerbaijan were to say, ‘I will welcome all Artsakh residents, all Karabakh people with open arms,’ I do not think more than a few hundred would agree to go, because there are issues regarding children, families, and attitudes. That return must surely be solidified by international actors; otherwise, it is impossible,” he added.

In response to whether the current authorities are only underperforming, or if the events that occurred also stemmed from betrayal, Serzh Sargsyan reacted: “Of course, occasionally I too use that term regarding them, but I am very reluctant to say, without documented evidence, that this is 100% the case. Do you doubt for a minute that they are denying everything? If they deny the declaration of Armenia's independence and vital issues for our people, when they question the fact of genocide, what problem is there?”