Dynamically changing geopolitical situation in the region incites new challenges entailing the following question: how many independent states will be in the South Caucasus, chairman of the ARFD Supreme Council of Armenia and the head of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan said at ARFD Hay Dat committees’ conference.

“Today the priority is to determine the number of independent states in the South Caucasus (3 states, 3+1, 3+2 or 3+3). One of the main regional actors, Russia with constantly increasing role in the region to date adhered to the concept of three independent states. However, after Russia-Georgia war, Moscow’s strategy changed and presently it backs 3+2 formula, comprising Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan plus Abkhazia and Ossetia. Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance is ready to support this idea unless it turns into 3+3, the mentioned countries plus Nagorno-Karabakh,” Rustamyan specified, stressing it is the main reason for Turkey’s aspiration to participate in Karabakh peace process. “However, Iran also expressed readiness to participate in the talks on Karabakh, facing official Yerevan’s silence. ARFD does not veil its position that Iran’s involvement in the process is tantamount to that of Ankara. Although Iran is not OSCE member, it should not be isolated from the process,” he stated, adding that changes in OSCE Minsk Group format proposed by Baku and Ankara are inadmissible.

ARFD member emphasized that Karabakh peace process entered a new stage, when Armenian side cannot keep its passive posture. “Karabakhi people expressed their will in a referendum, self-determining in the territory that is de facto within NKR administrative boundaries. This should be reported de jure by Armenian authorities at the negotiating table,” he concluded.

A.G.