YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan does not see an opportunity for the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the Karabakh conflict zone, he said in an interview with Bloomberg agency.

 “If there are no negotiations, how can Russian forces appear in Karabakh or between Azeri and Karabakh forces?” Sargsyan said. 

The peacekeepers can be deployed in the region at the invitation of one of the parties, President said, adding that he is convinced that Russia is not interested in large-scale hostilities in the region.

He said large-scale hostilities, regardless of the outcome, are not beneficial to the Armenian side, too.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that Armenia is a small country, and the consequences may be irreversible.

“We must keep fighting and fighting only when we are forced to, when there is no alternative. Do you know why I say that Russia is not interested in large-scale military actions? Because, when I analyze the events of the four-day war,  I see that Russia is pursuing, at least at the media level, at least at the level of statements, a balanced policy regarding us and Azerbaijan, despite the fact that we have a strategic agreement with Russia and, as expressed by Russian officials, Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for them,” Sargsyan said.

“We are a strategic ally, and Azerbaijan is a strategic partner. So they maintain balance. In Armenia, there is a certain public discontent, just as in Azerbaijan. But if they become a party, there will be much greater discontent in one of the countries, and they do not need it,” he resumed.