Another setback
HAK international relations committee member Vladimir Karapetyan views U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to reduce the sum allocated to Armenia and increase the sum for Azerbaijan in 2012 as an expression of its attitude toward Armenia.
Armenia has been allocated 3.45 million dollars in military assistance from Obama's budget for fiscal year 2012, while Azerbaijan has received over 450,000 dollars. "The proportion of figures presented to the countries of the region also shows the U.S. government's attitude. I think our government and the people have to do something," Mr. Karapetyan told "A1+".
According to him, the U.S.'s attitude toward Armenia is shown not only through the annual budget, but through the development programs as well and the most important one is the Millennium Challenges Program. "It was reduced by nearly 70 million dollars due to serious setbacks in the spheres of human rights and democracy in Armenia."
Touching upon the recent visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs during which the latter didn't visit the NKR, Vladimir Karapetyan said: "The weather conditions are not a serious explanation. I am sure that the co-Chairs would go with their cars if they wanted to. If the Co-Chairs had the desire, they would reach Stepanakert."
Vladimir Karapetyan finds that the Armenian authorities weren't able to make the Co-Chairs visit the NKR. "It was another setback."
Vladimir Karapetyan says the negotiations of the NK conflict have ceased. "It is in a labyrinth. There have not been any high-profile meetings since October."
Karapetyan also recalled that there was not even a message released after the last meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers. "That is very dangerous. Parallel to that, the Armenian-Turkish relations are in a labyrinth as well. Serzh Sargsyan's foreign policy is not expected to develop."
That is the reason why experts of international analytical centers more often start talking about the danger of a war breaking out again. Everything must be done to restart the negotiations process. When the sides negotiate, there is less danger."
