During his visit to Yerevan, US National Security Advisor John Bolton urged Armenian leadership to stop purchasing Russian weapons, and buy American instead. “Government is not limited in its actions. If there's a favorable offer, we will discuss it,” acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today, implying that Armenia can discuss proposal to buy American weapons. Mamikon Babayan, columnist of Vestnik Kavkaza, wrote about main problems that exist between Yerevan and Washington.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton visited Transcaucasia following visitis of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. Whenever any high-level Western politician visits the region, he participates in high-level meetins in Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan. This shows that the West doesn't consider South Caucasus republics as separate countries, and believes that future of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan is inseparably connected. Agenda of current visit of US National Security Advisor included discussion of the Karabakh problem.
The US is worried that Russia has strengthened its influence in Syria and has established close cooperation with Turkey. Since rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara, the US plans to strengthen its position in South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the United States, which may give Washington an advise regarding the Middle East and Iran. Georgia is the conductor of American politics in the region. The US still thinks about its future cooperation with Armenia.
America is unhappy with ambiguous policy of Armenia when it comes to Iran and the fact that republic is sending limited contingent of armed forces to Syria. However, issue of future strategy of work with new government and leadership of Armenia is of fundamental importance. Assistance of Armenia in the OSCE Minsk Group was highlighted in organization’s annual reports, however, according to Western experts, it's not enough. This is especially true when it comes to resumption of humanitarian contacts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, as well as support for activities of the International Red Cross Committee, which is ready to expand its activities in the region. Finally, Washington expects to see real program of step-by-step resolution of the Karabakh crisis, which hasn't been presented by Armenian side yet.
The West hopes that if Nikol Pashinyan succeeds, party headed by him will receive necessary mandate that can allow it to take decisive steps in the Karabakh problem settlement. In all likelihood, Washington believes in the plan of the US Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, who stated that it's impossible to resolve the conflict without returning certain occupied Azerbaijani territories. Status quo maintained by Yerevan works against Armenia: due to current situation, it became isolated. In current conditions, Armenian economy has been getting worse, which actually leads to corruption in the republic. Even if Nikol Pashinyan turns fight against corruption into a huge PR campaign, eventually it will only affect the tip of the iceberg, which will render it useless.
Obviously, Yerevan is very important for resolution of the Karabakh crisis, and peace process if very important for Washington. If the US will convince Pashinyan to begin liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the United States may be able to secure leading positions in South Caucasus, ousting Russia, Turkey and Iran from the region. Otherwise, Pashinyan will be considered a dependent figure in the West.
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