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RUSSIAN EXPERT: THERE IS TREND THAT ARMENIA'S INTERESTS WILL BE SACRIFICED
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/68966.html
May 31 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Director of the Russia-based Institute of
Political Sociology Vyacheslav Smirnov.
How do you assess the current level of rapprochement between Turkey
and Russia?
Today, Russia wants to become some sort of a bridge between the West
in the face of US and Europe and East in the face of the Muslim world
and South-East Asia. It strives to be some sort of a third force in
conflicts and contradictions, for example in a contradiction between
Israel and Muslim countries. This is because Russia is a multinational
and multi-xenophobia county and that Russia has normal relations
with the Muslim world. Turkey is Russia's key ally and partner in the
Muslim world. Moreover, Russia has always enjoyed at least positive
economic relations with Turkey.
The same can be said about Azerbaijan, too. Azerbaijanis are
fraternal nation for us who has lived in the same state with Russia
for many years. We do not have any acute differences. We have never
had territorial or economic differences. There is large economic
diaspora of Azerbaijan in Moscow and St. Petersburg. So, there are
many points of rapprochement.
Today, Armenia has a one support, which is its diaspora. The fact that
Armenia is a Christian state also plays a role to a certain degree.
But the country is largely isolated in the geopolitical area. Given
this factor and also developing ties between Moscow, Ankara and Baku,
there is certain trend that Armenia's interests will be sacrificed for
the geopolitical interests of the U.S., Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In your opinion, what role have the United States played in the South
Caucasus as of late?
The United States has big problems with the Muslim world which sees it
as both economic and cultural aggressor. Despite the fact that Russia
has some problems with Wahhabis in the North Caucasus, our policy that
we do not oppose the Muslim world because, by and large, we are part of
this world. However, the United States with its economic and cultural
hegemony tries to instill its culture in the guise of democracy to
countries that do not want it and are not ready to face big problems.
The Russian government wants to devote all its energy to establishing
close contacts with Asian countries, particularly Muslim states.
Again, this is an attempt to become the third force between the West
and the countries of Southeast Asia and the Muslim world, who live
in its traditional cultural community. In this respect, Turkey and
Azerbaijan are the most the closest allies of Russia, because we have
a largely common mentality. Once Russia finds a common language with
Turkey and Azerbaijan, Russia has a chance to find a common language
with other Muslim countries.
Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia has not yet voiced its response on the
updated Madrid principles. In your opinion, how long will Yerevan
delay the response? What will be Yerevan's response?
In this case, the decision does not depend on Armenia and Armenian
people, but on the so-called Karabakh clan which is currently holding
power in Armenia. If today the Minister of Defence of Armenia is a
man like Seyran Ohanian, how can one expect that Armenia will return
something? That is, it all depends on what benefits it will give to
this clan. And this concerns not only Nagorno-Karabakh, but also other
similar entities. To be honest, the history has not witnessed cases
when part of a country's territory that once gone out of control then
peacefully returned to a country's control.
Not only Azerbaijan, but also the UN, PACE MPs and Moscow strongly
condemned the so-called May 23 "parliamentary elections" in
Nagorno-Karabakh...
I don't think Moscow reacted harshly. It just did not approve this
"election". And this is because Russia is interested in developing
relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. So today, it is tactically,
strategically, geopolitically advantageous to Moscow to have a position
closer to that of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
But Kremlin will not take a clear position any time soon because it
is a matter of bargaining for any politician.
From: A. Papazian
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/68966.html
May 31 2010
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Director of the Russia-based Institute of
Political Sociology Vyacheslav Smirnov.
How do you assess the current level of rapprochement between Turkey
and Russia?
Today, Russia wants to become some sort of a bridge between the West
in the face of US and Europe and East in the face of the Muslim world
and South-East Asia. It strives to be some sort of a third force in
conflicts and contradictions, for example in a contradiction between
Israel and Muslim countries. This is because Russia is a multinational
and multi-xenophobia county and that Russia has normal relations
with the Muslim world. Turkey is Russia's key ally and partner in the
Muslim world. Moreover, Russia has always enjoyed at least positive
economic relations with Turkey.
The same can be said about Azerbaijan, too. Azerbaijanis are
fraternal nation for us who has lived in the same state with Russia
for many years. We do not have any acute differences. We have never
had territorial or economic differences. There is large economic
diaspora of Azerbaijan in Moscow and St. Petersburg. So, there are
many points of rapprochement.
Today, Armenia has a one support, which is its diaspora. The fact that
Armenia is a Christian state also plays a role to a certain degree.
But the country is largely isolated in the geopolitical area. Given
this factor and also developing ties between Moscow, Ankara and Baku,
there is certain trend that Armenia's interests will be sacrificed for
the geopolitical interests of the U.S., Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In your opinion, what role have the United States played in the South
Caucasus as of late?
The United States has big problems with the Muslim world which sees it
as both economic and cultural aggressor. Despite the fact that Russia
has some problems with Wahhabis in the North Caucasus, our policy that
we do not oppose the Muslim world because, by and large, we are part of
this world. However, the United States with its economic and cultural
hegemony tries to instill its culture in the guise of democracy to
countries that do not want it and are not ready to face big problems.
The Russian government wants to devote all its energy to establishing
close contacts with Asian countries, particularly Muslim states.
Again, this is an attempt to become the third force between the West
and the countries of Southeast Asia and the Muslim world, who live
in its traditional cultural community. In this respect, Turkey and
Azerbaijan are the most the closest allies of Russia, because we have
a largely common mentality. Once Russia finds a common language with
Turkey and Azerbaijan, Russia has a chance to find a common language
with other Muslim countries.
Unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia has not yet voiced its response on the
updated Madrid principles. In your opinion, how long will Yerevan
delay the response? What will be Yerevan's response?
In this case, the decision does not depend on Armenia and Armenian
people, but on the so-called Karabakh clan which is currently holding
power in Armenia. If today the Minister of Defence of Armenia is a
man like Seyran Ohanian, how can one expect that Armenia will return
something? That is, it all depends on what benefits it will give to
this clan. And this concerns not only Nagorno-Karabakh, but also other
similar entities. To be honest, the history has not witnessed cases
when part of a country's territory that once gone out of control then
peacefully returned to a country's control.
Not only Azerbaijan, but also the UN, PACE MPs and Moscow strongly
condemned the so-called May 23 "parliamentary elections" in
Nagorno-Karabakh...
I don't think Moscow reacted harshly. It just did not approve this
"election". And this is because Russia is interested in developing
relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. So today, it is tactically,
strategically, geopolitically advantageous to Moscow to have a position
closer to that of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
But Kremlin will not take a clear position any time soon because it
is a matter of bargaining for any politician.
From: A. Papazian