Orkhan Yolchuyev, the director of the STEM Analytical Center, stated during a broadcast on CBS that Armenia's actions are related to the expectations of the Yerevan authorities regarding the ongoing geopolitical processes in the world. He emphasized that all statements from the official government of Armenia are aimed at justifying the country’s destructive policy in the peace process with Azerbaijan.

"Armenia is in no rush to sign a peace agreement, likely waiting to see how geopolitical processes in the world develop, particularly the outcome of the U.S. elections and the situation on the Ukrainian front. In the absence of a peace treaty, Yerevan is attempting to use this time to whitewash its policy, aiming to present itself as a 'peace dove,' which ultimately undermines the peace process," he said.

The director also reminded that since October 2022, negotiations between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been ongoing on the first project proposed by the Azerbaijani side. "Agreements on some points of the future peace treaty have been reached, but there is still no consensus on strategic aspects, especially regarding constitutional changes in Armenia. For Azerbaijan, these issues are extremely important," said Yolchuyev, adding that concluding the treaty without removing references to territorial claims against Azerbaijan in Armenia's Constitution would be nonsensical.

Orkhan Yolchuyev also discussed the much-publicized "Crossroads of Peace" project proposed by Prime Minister Pashinyan. "Statements about the 'Crossroads of Peace' are aimed at the domestic audience. The project cannot be implemented without Azerbaijan's participation, as all transport and logistics hubs pass through its territory. For Turkey, this project is of little importance because Armenia would only be attractive to Turkey if its territory were used for access to Central Asia. However, since no agreements have been reached on this, Armenia, in this case, is simply a dead end for Ankara. As long as there are no concrete agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Turkey will not engage in joint projects with Armenia."

The expert also added that Azerbaijan is currently actively building infrastructure in Karabakh, including three already constructed international airports. The director believes that once Azerbaijan completes the construction of roads along the conditional border with Armenia, the communications Armenia is building together with Iranian companies will lose relevance and will not be actively used.

Discussing the interests of France in the South Caucasus, he noted that 70% of the personnel in the civilian mission stationed at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are French, overseen by officials connected to Macron’s administration in the European Council. According to him, the United States also uses its intelligence forces in Armenia, cooperating with France. "The so-called civilian mission at the conditional border with Armenia was deployed after CIA Director Robert Burns' visit to Yerevan. For the Americans, this is a convenient space because France’s foreign policy doctrine allows it to actively act not only in the South Caucasus but across the entire post-Soviet space," Yolchuyev said. https://stem-lab.az/article/qlava-tsentra-stem-rasskazal-pochemu-armeniya-torpediruet-mirnyi-protsess-s-azerbaidzhanom-946