The West and Europe are doing their best to support Armenia: Novruz Mammadov

The recently signed Russian-Armenian protocol will not create serious threat for Azerbaijan. The fact is that this status-quo existed before as well and Russia and Armenia considered such mutual military assistance within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Chief of the Foreign Relations Department of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov said in an interview with APA.

“Now they are renewing and extending it. Russia promised to support Armenia and tried to substantiate its decision. But there are some issues surprising us. First, the international community didn’t make any concrete and substantial statement on this issue. Spokesman for the US State Department said that this was cooperation between two countries and they understand that and didn’t intend to interfere in the bilateral cooperation between two countries,” said he adding that such level of support to Armenia is contradictory to the norms and principles of international law.

“Second, Russia takes the neutral status and participates in the process of solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. But it is difficult to be a non-partisan mediator making such statements and giving support. All of these cannot be packed within same frame. That is the main issue.

“May be, more grounded attitude towards these issues will be shown during the President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit. Because the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are at the highest level. I think that Azerbaijan is not a simple state for Russia. In comparison with Armenia, Azerbaijan is a very important state from strategic standpoint. In my opinion, if all these are taken into account, the processes must have a logical explanation.”

Asked about the US Department of State’s statement, saying that the defense pact signed between Armenia and Russia is up to them, Mr Mamedov said: “We have established relations with all states basing on the principles of full confidence and sincerity and we are realizing our cooperation and partnership in accordance with these principles. But unfortunately, we cannot always see adequate reaction to it. The US says it has great interests in the South Caucasus."

Further Mr Mammadov said he has concluded that the West and Europe are doing their best to support Armenia.

“They do not even refrain from demonstrating it,” said he.