Newspaper: Armenia PM to make new concessions in Azerbaijan’s favor

Armenian Press 10 May, 2024 8:00

Hraparak daily of Armenia writes as follows, in part: After the visit to Moscow, the CC [i.e. the ruling Civil Contract Party] is eagerly waiting for the meeting with [PM Nikol] Pashinyan to find out what he discussed with the Russian tsar [i.e. Russian President Vladimir Putin].

Although Pashinyan visited Victory Park [in Yerevan] yesterday, he did not even insinuate whether the meeting was successful or unsuccessful. Instead, the [political] team [off his] began to make guesses based on the statements of Putin's spokesman, [Dmitry] Peskov. He stated that Putin and Pashinyan clarified the red lines. The team believes that the red lines that Armenia should not cross were clarified during the meeting. It is about the Russian military base in Armenia, the Russian presence on the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Iranian borders.

Based on the statement of the RF [(Russian Federation)] president's spokesperson, Pashinyan gave assurances to Putin that the question of a complete withdrawal of the Russian military presence from Armenia will not be raised, but the Russians must back down on some issues.

"According to the agreement reached, the Russian border guard and military points deployed in Tavush, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Ararat Provinces [of Armenia] during the 44-day war [in 2020] and after it will stop their deployment and leave those points. The decision to stop the activities of the RF border guards at Zvartnots [International] Airport [of Yerevan] was also approved at the highest level."

That is, the Russian border guards are removed from the areas where Azerbaijan has territorial ambitions, the Armenian army is not deployed, which suggests that that Pashinyan is preparing for new concessions in favor of Azerbaijan.