Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Today, Armenia remains outside of all regional projects, confessed Secretary of the Armenian National Congress Aram Manukyan at a press conference on August 23.

A country is independent as far as it has connections and relationships with other countries, particularly its neighbors. “For Armenia these countries are Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. But, today Armenia is left out of all regional projects, and nothing is expected in the future,” said Manukyan.

Currently, Russia improves relations with Turkey and Iran, as well as forms excellent multilateral cooperation. On the other hand, Azerbaijan and Russia create strong strategic relations. “Our regular ally Iran, now establishes far better relations with Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Armenian agency NEWS.am reports.

On the background of the expanding regional cooperation, Armenia is left out of all projects. “Due to the current authorities, Armenia became nothing, and Armenia has no influence on these players in order to strengthen its independence. That is the real loss of independence. Today there is no country that would completely support Armenia and its interest,” complained Manukyan.

Meanwhile, the only potential of Armenia on the international trade arena is transit. But this possibility is also limited because of Armenia’s occupation policy.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. The occupation caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.

The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.

Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs, dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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