Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

BAKU: Azerbaijan, Armenia Not To Do Without Russian Mediation

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • BAKU: Azerbaijan, Armenia Not To Do Without Russian Mediation

    AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA NOT TO DO WITHOUT RUSSIAN MEDIATION

    news.az, Azerbaijan
    Sept 30 2011

    News.Az interviews Nikolay Baranov, doctor of political science.

    How will Vladimir Putin's return to presidency in Russia affect changes
    in Russian foreign policy towards the adjacent states, including the
    South Caucasus?

    In my opinion, Russia's foreign policy will see no cardinal changes.

    Vladimir Putin is a stiffer politician and is quite pragmatic when it
    comes to the Russian interests. No principal changes will occur, which
    is why Georgia will have no hopes for improvement of relations under
    Saakashvili's presidency. Relations with Azerbaijan will be smooth,
    Russia may offer new proposals on mutual profitable cooperation,
    especially in energy sources. Armenia will likely be tied to Russia
    more closely in terms of energy supply with possible preferences
    for preservation of the military base. Russia will likely attract
    other CIS members to the Customs Union, thus expanding the area of
    influence via economic mechanisms. A civilized breakup is possible
    with the CIS countries with whom no common projects are available.

    Is the Kremlin policy in relation to South Caucasus in terms of
    provision of their security by Russia justified?

    Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was undesirable
    but a forced step by Russia. If these republics were not recognized,
    Russia would say farewell to the status of a superpower, which the
    country's leadership could not accept. Thus, Russia created excessive
    problems in the South Caucasus, whose importance is shrinking with
    the increase in the economic and military might of the country and on
    the contrary is rising with the negative economic indicators. A big
    and powerful state is forgiven many things but to this end it must
    become big and great. The title of a 'superpower' must by attached
    not by Russia but other superpowers. Russia has problems with this
    recognition, which means problems in security sphere.

    Do the South Caucasus countries, particularly, Azerbaijan have the
    opportunity to draw Russia's attention to the resolution of their
    strategic problems, if exactly, the territorial dispute? In other
    words, is it possible to say that Putin's return to presidency in
    Russia will raise the opportunity of settlement of the Karabakh
    conflict?

    The problem of Nagorno Karabakh cannot be settled by any third
    countries, however big they are. This is a problem of the two
    countries-Azerbaijan and Armenia. If there is a political will of both
    parties, this problem can be settled anyway. The most important is
    to have a wish to settle the territorial dispute peacefully and not
    in favor of only one state. Politicians should understand it clearly
    that to gain something, it is necessary to refuse something. It is
    up to these two countries to define this 'something'. There is no
    significant difference who will be the president of Russia-Vladimir
    Putin or any other politician. South Caucasus is an area of Russian
    interests, which is why negotiation process cannot do without its
    mediation, if there is really a wish to negotiate.

    Nikolay Baranov doctor of political science, deputy chair of
    international relations of the Saint Petersburg institute of foreign
    economic relations, economy and law.

    N.H.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X