Is Armenia ensnared?
"During the past two years Armenia has appeared in a trap set by the authorities through rigged elections," said Lyudmila Sargsyan, chairperson of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHK).
The party is not encouraged by the extension of terms of the Russian military base deployment in Armenia as the document agreement restricts Armenia's sovereignty.
"Russia manipulates the Karabakh conflict settlement process going on in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Obviously, Russia's role is significant in the Minsk group," says the DSHK Chairperson.
Speaking about Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Azerbaijan, Lyudmila Sargsyan refrained from giving any comment due to the lack of information.
"Russia is constantly changing its mind. Armenia was to gain maximum profit from the situation with minimum losses. Instead, Armenia made great concessions. If the authorities continue governing the country for another two years, Armenia will de facto lose its independence."
To save the situation the SDHK calls for pre-term elections.
Chairman of the People's Party Tigran Karapetyan assesses President Meddvedev's visit to Baku as normal saying Russia can, in no way, affect the negotiation process.
"The fact that Russia signed an agreement with Armenia evidences that Russia emphasizes the role of Armenia while Armenia focuses on Artsakh. It means that the Karabakh conflict remians unsolved between Azerbaijan and Armenia because the countries pursue mutually exclusive interests. Hence, the resumption of war [be it tomorrow, in a year or two] is inevitable," Karapetyan said.
Mr. Karapetyan thinks that Medvedev's visit to Azerbaijan was not accidental. With the help of Georgia the USA seeks to form a confederation and involve Azerbaijan in the NATO.
"Medvedev will try to deepen partnership with Azerbaijan and sign agreements, thus preventing Azerbaijan to break relations with Russia," he said.
