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Ashot Melqonyan, Head of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Science of the RA, thinks that State Duma deputies’ initiative to cancel Moscow treaty is associated only with the Russian-Turkish tense relations.

“This treaty, signed in 1921 March 16, has an obvious anti-Armenian nature. But Russia has neglected that part. Moreover, in 2011 both states were celebrating the 90-th anniversary of the treaty,” said Ashot Melqonyan to Panorama.am.

The historian thinks that the issue of the cancellation of the treaty has become important only now when the relations between Russia and Turkey are deteriorated.

“I consider this as an obvious sign of opportunism. Meanwhile, I don’t think that the cancellation would happen, since it looks more like blackmail towards Turkey, rather than real action. And this initiative would further spoil Russian-Turkish relationship,”-said Melqonyan.

Armenia should be cautious to the current developments in Russia.

As for the fate of the Kars treaty in case of cancellation of Moscow treaty, “Even though we have demanding stance, today the cancellation of Moscow treaty may have dangerous consequences. Anyway we should welcome Russia’s decision to cancel the treaty, but we should remember that running ahead of the train is not safe,” noted Melqonyan.

“Russia will cancel the Moscow treaty, only if Russian military bases in Syria would be boomed from the Turkish border, and if military operation would be launched between these two states. But at this stage, I think the cancellation is not possible,”-said Melqonyan.

Two communist deputies of Russian State Duma have earlier appealed to President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to revoke a 1921 treaty with Turkey.
Sergei Obukhov and Valery Rashkin stated that the Moscow treaty contradicts to Russian interests.

“Ankara must realize the possible consequences of the escalation of the conflict. Only this may keep it from new provocations,”-said Obukhov.