There are no friends and allies in big politics, there are interests - essential and perpetual, and everyone uses everyone else for their own gain. Despite its tragic fate, the Armenians fail to understand the simple truth that looking for patrons is not only pointless, but is also extremely dangerous, since any potential patron will promote its own interest, and mainly at the expense of its protégé.

This truth reveals its terrible face at historical junctures when the international order collapses, as it occurs now, or as it happened during the World War I, when the law of the jungle came into play. Even more so, when the powerful of the world themselves are involved in the existential struggle. Russia may collapse if it shows its weakness. The same can happen with Iran and Turkey.

The world leader, the United States, is facing a similar problem, which in case of losing its hegemony -dominant position, may be destroyed first economically and then physically. The problem is existential, in such cases no country will go to self-sacrifice to save another country. This is the main tip of not looking for a patron.

Politics is a strategy that implies the construction of one's own military art through the realization of the interests of neighbors and leading powers and the analysis of their combination. In short, international politics is a transaction based on mutual interests. We did not learn this simple truth, and being disappointed by one patron and insulting it, we try to run into the arms of another and impose protection at once.

This is all that has happened to us and what, unfortunately, led to the loss of Artsakh. Nonetheless, our losses will not be limited to this, if we do not make proper conclusions at least now. We were looking for patronage in Russia while pursuing an anti-Russian policy. Today, it is Iran that still ensures the security of Syunik, but instead, we bring Iran's sworn enemies to the region. We expect patronage from the West, without defining its interest and clarifying the context of our suitability for that West.

In relations with allies and friends, the incumbent government of Armenia has made such a mess that you don't know who is whose friend. On one occasion it declares that Russia is a serious threat to our security, being hostile to its once strategic ally, on the other occasion it attacks Iran's interests by providing services to the West, at the expense of its own country and its sacrifices.

And that price is our twin states that has been separated, the painful territorial and human losses we have suffered and, ultimately, our nationwide humiliation.