Armenia warns of potential conflict with Azerbaijan, cites Western ties
The Prime Minister of Armenia has informed the nation that a potential conflict with Azerbaijan could be on the horizon, centered around the dispute over four strategically significant villages. The situation is expected to be clarified by the end of the week. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, attributes this tension to Armenia's engagement with Western nations.
5:02 AM EDT, March 20, 2024
It's important to note that numerous statements from Russian media or government officials are often seen as propaganda. These are components of the information warfare conducted by the Russian Federation.
Maria Zakharova, the Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has clarified Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's concerns about a looming war with Azerbaijan. She believes that Yerevan's predicament arises from its consultations with Western countries.
“Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned the residents of the Tavush region that a failure to reach a compromise with Baku over the border villages could lead to war by week's end. This situation results from Yerevan's alignment with influences from the European Union, NATO, and Washington. It’s crucial to recognize that Russia plays no part in this scenario. The responsibility lies solely with Yerevan's current leadership and its Western consultations,” Zakharova elaborated on Telegram.
Russia's stance on Armenia's protection and Yerevan's reconsideration of its CSTO membership
During a conversation with inhabitants of the northern Armenian Tavush region's border areas on Monday—a discussion reported by the Reuters agency—the critical nature of the disputed villages to Armenia's strategic was underscored. They have been under Yerevan's control since the 1990s and are now demanded back by Azerbaijan as a core condition for any peace deal.
Despite being an official ally of Russia, Armenia feels unprotected against Azerbaijan within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Frustrated by the military alliance’s inability to address its security needs, the Armenian government recently declared its intention to exit the CSTO.
Source: Telegram, WP News
