An expert on the statements of John Bolton: Many countries had  restrictions related to the sale of weapons to countries such as  Azerbaijan, but Russia broke this embargo

ArmInfo. Many countries had restrictions related to the sale of weapons to countries such as Azerbaijan, but Russia broke this embargo, international expert,  former chairman of the parliamentary commission on foreign relations,  Hovhannes Igityan, commenting on the statement by the adviser to the  US president on national security, told ArmInfo.

John Bolton that it is possible that Donald Trump may use his powers to suspend the 907th  amendment to the Act on the Support of Freedom, limiting the  provision of Azerbaijan in the US aid at the state level.  Recall  that in the context of his visit to Azerbaijan, John Bolton raised  the issue of the 907th amendment to the Act on the Support of  Freedom, which concerns the limitation of arms sales to conflicting  countries.  Igityan noted that this amendment was adopted by the  Congress in 1992 and banned the provision of assistance to Baku along  the government line by the American administration in connection with  the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And now, for many years,  Azerbaijani diplomacy has been striving to repeal the 907th  amendment, but so far without success. "The fact is that countries  such as Azerbaijan have problems with democratic values, and this  amendment was established in this connection," the expert stressed.   Igityan noted that many countries had restrictions related to the  sale of weapons to countries such as Azerbaijan, but Russia broke  this embargo. "As I noted, despite the numerous statements by Russia,  that this is just a business, I want to note that this is not so. In  fact, this is a policy, and an imbalance of forces in the region.  After all, it is clear that the Russian authorities knew perfectly  well that Azerbaijan uses this weapon against Armenia and against  Artsakh, "the former chairman of the parliamentary commission on  foreign relations stressed.  The expert also emphasized that the fact  that Bolton noted that this issue is still not on the US agenda is  equally important. "It is important that today the amendment is in  effect," Igityan noted.  The former chairman of the parliamentary  commission on foreign relations also referred to Bolton's statement  that the United States might strengthen sanctions against Iran. "Of  course, it's obvious to all of us that John Bolton's trips to Russia  and, later, to our region are largely related to the Iranian issue.  But I don't think that all of this will affect relations between  Armenia and Iran. After all, we have experience active trade and  maintaining friendly relations with Iran, which is under sanctions,  "said Igityan.  The expert stressed that we do not have such goods  that could contradict the conditions of the sanctions and this issue  applies more to Russia than to Armenia. "This issue concerns Russia  more in terms of armaments and nuclear programs, and this will not  affect Armenia in any way. Moreover, I don't think that this  situation will greatly affect Iran's domestic economy, since the  sanctions will mostly be local in nature" , - stressed the  ex-chairman of the parliamentary commission on foreign relations.  As  for the statement by the US National Security Advisor to the US  President on Syrian Religious Mission in Syria, Igityan considered  that in this statement one could certainly notice a certain warning  to the RA.  "As we know, the Syrian issue is extremely politicized,  and we need to be very careful in this area. I think that we should  not support the position of any of the parties on this issue.  However, given that our presence in Syria is exclusively humanitarian  character, this warning is not dangerous for us, "Igityan stressed.   At the same time, the expert stressed that Armenia should still have  a peacekeeping mission in Syria, because the matter concerns the  large Armenian community that lives in the territory. "We must  actively participate in peacekeeping missions and the assistance of  Armenia to our compatriots should be meaningful and go beyond the  wishes of third countries," the expert said.  Answering the question  of ArmInfo's correspondent as he assesses John Bolton's trip as a  whole, the expert said: "Of course, this visit was primarily aimed at  discussing security issues in the region, particularly in Armenia.  For us, this is a very good opportunity for Armenian development  -American relations. Recently, they have "withered", and this is due  to the fact that representatives of the previous government were very  careful in developing relations with the United States. The fact is  that they were afraid of Russia's negative reaction to the  development of the Armenian-American relations . Eny However, as we  are an independent country, we have every right to develop our  relations in accordance with the national interests, "- said the  expert.  He noted that the relations between Armenia and the United  States proceed from the interests of our two countries, and moreover,  the Armenian community in the United States is the second largest in  the world, and this cannot be ignored. "We had good relations with  the United States and they need to be restored, as it comes from our  direct interests. At the moment we have a great opportunity to give a  new impetus to these relations," concluded Hovhannes Igityan.  Note  that the adviser to the President of the United States on national  security in the evening of October 24 visited Yerevan. Before this  visit, Bolton visited Moscow, and on the 24th in the morning - Baku.  After Yerevan, Bolton will visit Georgia.