Yerevan, October 17. ArmInfo. Armenia cannot constantly maneuver maintaining friendly relations with all states. There are situations when it should choose between the interests in Russia and Georgia, especially as the interests of Armenia and Russia are incomparable with those of Armenia and Georgia, said Konstantin Zatoulin, member of the Russian State Duma, in an interview with ArmInfo. The parliamentarian is dissatisfied with the passive position of official Yerevan in the tense Russian-Georgian relations. “Has Armenia tried to support its strategic partner at least once? Has it made a single statement to Tbilisi calling on it for restraint? I cannot remember such statement,” he said.

He said that Armenia tries to take into consideration the interests of Georgia even in the Karabakh problem. “It is quite evident that the approaches to Karabakh, South Ossetic and Abkhazian conflicts must be identical. However, Armenia constantly tries to isolate the Karabakh conflict from the above two conflicts in order not to infringe the interests of Georgia. However, I think Armenia should not be guided with the interests of Georgia and must not isolate the Karabakh conflict from the South Ossetic and Abkhazian ones. It should protect its own interests, first of all. After all, I am simply surprised at such a position of Armenia with respect to Georgia. Has Tbilisi ever taken into account the interests of Armenia when building its relations with Azerbaijan? Never. While, Armenia still supports the interests of Georgia. I just cannot understand this,” the parliamentarian says with bewilderment. As regards the ways of settling the Karabakh conflict, K. Zatoulin thinks they in Russia are impressed with the last developments in Abkhazia, Ossetia and Transdniestria. A new approach to the unrecognized states is being formed. This approach must undoubtedly apply to Karabakh conflict as well. “Russia and the world must define their impartial position in the Karabakh issue taking into account the reality. During the last 15 years new generations of unrecognized states have originated. In case of further devotion to the term ‘unrecognized states,’ we can not only torpedo the settlement of conflicts, but also occur in rather an ambiguous situation when terms not reflecting the reality are used,” he says. At the same time, regarding the Karabakh conflict, Russia is in rather an uneasy situation when it should maintain good relations with Azerbaijan, in addition. “However, I’d repeat that Russia must display a similar approach to the conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Karabakh. It is quite another case if Armenia does not want to draw parallels between these conflicts,” K. Zatoulin said.