Lukashenko criticizes Armenia for “flirting” with the EU and its position on the Karabakh issue
During an interview in Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned the Armenian authorities against rapprochement with the European Union. In his opinion, the country's leadership is turning Russia against it and making enemies.
“They have started flirting with the EU. This is a very dangerous game. Calm him [Pashinyan] down there, otherwise he will destroy Armenia. He is also turning Russia against himself. Their territory is small, their population is not huge, and he has surrounded himself with enemies. Now, the EU will start helping him with something... He will destroy the country. Therefore, he must be calmed down. War cannot be allowed,” Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian president’s criticism of Yerevan also touched on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. He shared details of past negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in which he acted as a mediator.
Lukashenko claims that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev offered the Armenian side "economic cooperation and investments" without any intention of fighting. According to the Belarusian leader, Yerevan's position prevented the development of these proposals.
Lukashenko recalled his words once said to Aliyev: "This stinking policy always costs something." Through him, Aliyev allegedly offered the then Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan $5 billion for the transfer of seven districts around Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. Sargsyan, in turn, allegedly raised the stakes, estimating Azerbaijan's refusal of these territories at $6 billion, and "even took offense at this" at the mediator. The President of Belarus added that responsibility for the outcome of the conflict around the unrecognized republic lies with the Armenian leadership.
"The results of these battles are the fault of the Armenian leadership. Only their fault. Even after they lost the war, no one forced them to speak up. They themselves stated that they recognize the territories that were considered part of Azerbaijan in the USSR. Putin and I were stunned. I called him and asked: "Did you hear that? Did you hear that?" And Putin answered: "Why did he say that?" Lukashenko shared.
The Belarusian leader also separately commented on the statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who allegedly actually recognized Azerbaijan's territorial claims. In this context, Lukashenko expressed bewilderment at the Armenian authorities' resentment towards Belarus for supporting Baku.
"Pashinyan himself renounced Nagorno-Karabakh, although at that moment Ilham was ready to agree that this was a territory where Armenia would have serious influence. But here is such a gift. Who would not take advantage of it? What does this have to do with me?" Lukashenko complained.
Relations between Yerevan and Minsk deteriorated after previous statements by the head of Belarus on the results of the Karabakh war and his visit together with Azerbaijani President Aliyev to the city of Shusha in May last year. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan viewed those statements as Lukashenko’s admission of “assistance to Azerbaijan.” Armenian officials were later banned from visiting Belarus while the country’s current president remains in office.
