Commander-in-Chief is weak
Former Minister of Defense, general-lieutenant Vagarshak Harutyunyan believes that the "Madrid Principles" are not principles, but a draft treaty.
"Principles mean approach. Whereas they can be considered principles in terms of a referendum because it generally states when and where it is held, for Azerbaijan's interests, it is clearly stated that the lands will be given and refugees will return. This is the draft of a treaty."
According to him, the Co-Chairs know very well that the conflict can't be resolved now. That is why they are being diplomatic and saying that the status issue will be solved through a referendum and that will satisfy the Armenian side to give the lands. This will create a new political situation in the country where Armenia will be several times weaker than Azerbaijan, giving Azerbaijan the best opportunity to wage a war against Armenia.
Vagarshak Harutyunyan does not permit the concession of lands due to several reasons.
"We have spent huge amounts of money and ensured serious defense positions. If we return the lands, some military-political changes will take place. The line of contact will double, the regions of Karabakh will be at a 5 kilometer distance from the new line of contact. We will lose the defense lines, engineering structures, favorable positions and the roads by which the combat subdivisions move. The roads used for contact with Armenia will be eliminated and this will all lead to a misbalance in favor of Azerbaijan, which increases the danger of a new war."
Today the former Minister of Defense doesn't find the restart of a war possible due to the fact that Armenia has well-prepared defense lines and strategies.
Vagarshak Harutyunyan took note of the fact that just technologies and soldiers are not enough and it is very important to have a moral-psychological atmosphere. In closing, Vagharshak recalled that while Azerbaijan was at an advantage with human and technical resources in the 90s and father Aliev handed 5 regions, his son Aliev is incomparably weak.
Former political prisoner, freedom fighter Vardan Malkhasyan is sure that Serzh Sargsyan is ready to hand over not only the liberated lands, but Karabakh. He recalled the statements made by Serzh Sargsyan on different occasions and that the authorities are currently trying to create moods in society to make them immune to the loss of Karabakh."
