Armenian journalist and blogger Roman Baqdasaryan gave an interview to EDnews TV.He shared his views on the current political situation in the South Caucasus, prospects for peace, public sentiment in Armenian society, the Zangezur Corridor, and Russia’s information policy in the region.
Thank you very much. I hope that such interviews between Armenians and Azerbaijanis will become more frequent. They need to increase, because the leaders of both countries are calling on their peoples to communicate with one another. I believe we should move forward guided by this very philosophy.
– How does the Armenian public react to the implementation of Azerbaijan’s peace initiatives? Are Armenians truly ready for peace?
Of course, they are ready. They have never thought about permanent war or confrontation. We have lived under conditions of propaganda in the region—both in Azerbaijan and in Armenia. We all know very well that since 1988, significant efforts have been made to pit the two peoples against each other. Before 1988, the peoples lived in peace, and no one wanted war. Between 1985 and 1988, substantial financial and human resources were mobilized to set the two peoples against one another. Some individuals in Azerbaijan, Moscow, Yerevan, and Karabakh were involved in this process. The Armenian people have never been oriented toward war with Azerbaijan or lived with hatred. This remains true today, regardless of what certain provocateurs attempt to create on social media.
Touching upon discussions in Armenia regarding constitutional amendments following the draft peace agreement, the presenter asked:
– This issue has caused divisions within the Armenian political elite. How do you assess this?
Most of the people talking about the constitution have never actually read it. People are occupied with daily problems, read certain theses, and do not understand what the constitution really is. However, even before negotiations with Azerbaijan, in 2018, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the constitution needed to be changed, because it no longer corresponds to current realities. The Soviet Union no longer exists, Soviet ideology no longer exists, yet the constitution remains outdated. Therefore, changes are necessary for the country to live in a stable and prosperous manner.
– You have also stated that some community leaders in Russia do not act in the interests of the Armenian people. How does this manifest itself?
Armenian communities in Russia are not connected to ordinary Armenians. They do not love Armenia; instead, they have built businesses under Armenia’s name. They own shopping centers and markets and earn large sums of money. These people are under the control of the FSB (Russian intelligence). It is impossible to accumulate such wealth without criminal activity. They are hostages to their past crimes and are therefore controlled.
Commenting on the rally held in Armavir, Baqdasaryan stated that people were brought there by force.
Responding to a question about bloggers opposing Pashinyan, the interviewee noted: These are Telegram channels financed by the FSB. They have neither protected Karabakh nor Armenia’s borders.
– Overall, how would you describe the current situation in the South Caucasus?
The peoples of the Caucasus have lived under propaganda of hostility for 35 years. However, only peace can bring development. It is important to respect neighboring peoples. Insulting nations is nothing but ignorance. Each of us has our own culture and history.
If people approach the issue thoughtfully rather than with hatred, they will understand that both peoples want peace. Because everyone wants health, quality of life, and personal happiness.
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