To know what I need, I need to know Russia’s plan; I know what Aliyev wants (the more, the better), but I don’t know Russia’s plans. This is what first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan said in an interview with Petros Ghazaryan on Armenian Public Television, adding that Russia doesn’t disclose its plans for anyone.

“Today, Russia has one person to talk to in Armenia, and that is the head of state. I have ties with Russia, Robert [second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan] has stronger ties in Moscow, but nobody will tell me or Robert. Pashinyan is Armenia’s representative. I’m certain that Russia sincerely tells Pashinyan what it intends to do in this region and with regard to the future of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in general. Pashinyan doesn’t even understand what the Russians are telling him,” he said.

Asked what will happen if the Russian side withdraws from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the first President of Armenia said he doesn’t know what will happen, but added that there might even be a war.

Asked if Armenia needs to establish direct ties with Turkey now, Ter-Petrosyan said Armenia should have thought about the establishment of direct ties with Turkey a long time ago. “Aliyev is also offering direct ties, if Armenia gives up Karabakh. The first thing a head of state needs to do is to try to be cunning. If I was cunning, nobody would deal with me. There is a new phenomenon now. The dialogue between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan has never been as rough as it is now. Both sides insult and humiliate each other. This is an expression of Nikolism [the acts of Nikol Pashinyan],” he said.