The statement made by Novruz Mammedov, Head of the International Relations Department, Azerbaijani presidential administration, that the agreement on longer-term presence of the Russian military base in Armenia is a challenge to Russia’s impartiality as an OSCE Minsk Group mediator is nothing but a gamble without any serious consequences, Naira Zohrabyan, Chairwoman of the Commission for European Integration, RA Parliament, told NEWS.am.

The only aim of the statement is get the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process out of the OSCE Minsk Group. “The agreement on longer-term presence of the Russian military base is a good pretext for Azerbaijan for raising the issue of no confidence in the OSCE Minsk Group again,” Zohrabyan said. Azerbaijan hopes for success if the OSCE Minsk Group is replaced by any other international agency. “The question is: if Russia is not impartial, which state is impartial – is it Turkey Baku is desperately trying to make an OSCE Minsk Group member? That is ridiculous!” Zohrabyan said. She does not consider Baku’s statement serious.

“As regards the Russian military base, Armenia needs additional security guarantees in such a problematic region as the South Caucasus, and the agreement will accomplish the task,” Zohrabyan said.

NEWS.am reminds readers that in his interview with the APA News Agency Novruz Mammedov classified the Armenian-Russian agreement as Moscow’s unilateral support for Armenia and challenged Russia’s impartiality. He was also highly critical of the West’s passive attitude to the recent developments in the region.