In his statement to Ednew, British journalist and political scientist Neil Watson said this while commenting on the torture of an Azerbaijani soldier found in Armenia:
“As a UK citizen who believes in upholding international law and as a humanitarian, I completely condemn the torture of three young Azerbaijani soldiers who found themselves in Armenian captivity. Their videoed ill-treatment is completely against the Geneva Convention and other international laws, to which Armenia is a signatory.”
“The fact is that Armenia and its two big supporters - Iran and Russia - do not want a peace deal. They two countries thrive on volatility, violence and mutual hostility between Azerbaijan and Armenia for their own purposes. Such acts of violence make a peace treaty and border delimitation in the near future seem even more unlikely”, he noted.
“In my view, the only way forward is peace discussions held in a third country - either in Brussels or the US - without the participation of self-interested or biased third parties. Deep down, Pashinyan knows he has to sign a peace deal, but he is seemingly delaying matters ad infinitum to placate the international Armenian diaspora, Russia and Iran. He needs to feel empowered to make the right decision - peace with Azerbaijan. However, he comes with baggage at home in Armenia, as the man who lost Karabakh and temporarily lost the support of Russia. Either he needs to be a man and do what is right, or he should resign his post, the hope being that his successor as Armenian leader will be able to sign a peace treaty whilst maintaining internal support in Armenia, amongst the diaspora and retaining acceptable relations with Russia, Iran, France and other interested third parties”, N. Watson stressed in the end.
Ulviyya Shahin
