Russian president delivered message that was both diplomatic and  politically damaging - ex-FM

ArmInfo.  Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message that was both diplomatic and politically damaging at a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Moscow yesterday, according to former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan.  "This was no ordinary official meeting. In  a carefully crafted public speech, Putin delivered a message that was  both diplomatic and politically damaging," the diplomat noted.

According to him, by touching on Armenia's economic ties, security  issues, mentioning Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyan's unrealistic  expectations for relations with the European Union, and even hinting  at the upcoming elections, he not only summarized bilateral relations  and regional issues; he clearly drew a contrast between what Armenia  had, what it had lost, and what it still stands to lose. "Putin's  preface was essentially a verdict on Pashinyan. Putting aside the  diplomatic language, the message was clear: you don't seem to  understand what you're doing, you're on the wrong path, and if you  continue in this vein, you will cause the Armenian people  incomparably more harm than you already have. For a moment, I even  expected Putin to ask Pashinyan what he was wearing on his jacket,"  Oskanyan added.

According to him, it was presumably a map of Armenia. "Pashinyan wore  this map to emphasize that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is closed. But  who wears a map on their chest? Has anyone ever seen the leader of  another country do something like that? A flag, yes, but a map?  Imagine the opposite: Putin wears a map of Russia, including Donbas,  at international meetings," the former Armenian Foreign Minister  continued.  Oskanyan suggested that what Pashinyan is trying to  convey with this symbol has the exact opposite effect. 

According to him, this map, right on Pashinyan's chest, serves as a  constant reminder to the Armenian people that Nagorno-Karabakh was  lost in vain, precisely during his reign, due to his grave mistakes.   "Furthermore, when a leader wears a map of his country on his chest,  it reveals yet another internal mistrust: that this territory is also  unstable and indefensible, that it too can be lost, and that it must  be held on to, to convince yourself and others that at least it can  be preserved. Because you are rightly afraid that you don't even know  how to preserve it," the diplomat concluded.

It should be noted that Putin and Pashinyan held talks in Moscow on  April 1. The meeting took place in a rather tense atmosphere, with  the parties exchanging mutual grievances. The Russian leader  emphasized Moscow's position on Yerevan's claims against the CSTO,  the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Yerevan's integration into the EU, and  further cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. The position on  the construction of the nuclear power plant and the persecution of  Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan in Armenia was also conveyed.  Pashinyan, in turn, assured the friendly nature of bilateral  relations, recalled the grievances against the CSTO, attempted to  shift responsibility for the surrender of Artsakh to Russia, and  stated that Russian citizens will not be able to participate in  political processes in Armenia.