Russian expert: Besides OSCE MG, there are other means to restrain
parties to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
by David Stepanyan
ARMINFO
Saturday, October 4, 13:18
Besides the OSCE Minsk Group, there are other means to restrain the
parties to the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict and to preserve the status
quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, well-known Russian expert Sergey Markedonov
said in an interview to ArmInfo.
"Russia has never questioned the need to preserve the Minsk Group and
the Madrid principles and to cooperate with the United States and
France on the matter. But, on the other hand, they in the Kremlin
cannot neglect the West's attempts to minimize Russia's role in the
post-Soviet area. And President Putin's initiative to organize a
meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents in Sochi was exactly a
response to this process," Markedonov said.
He said that Russia is currently using different mechanisms to
preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh: on the one hand, it is
actively developing its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the Caspian
Sea, on the other, it is involving Armenia in its integration
projects.
"This status quo does not oblige Russia to choose between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Russia's attempts to keep Azerbaijan from becoming second
Georgia do not mean that it is neglecting its strategic partnership
with Armenia. The factor of this partnership is strong enough to sober
the forces seeking to change the status quo. Russia is ready to accept
any solution except war. And Armenia's involvement in the Eurasian
project will be just one more proof that Russia is consistent in this
policy," Markedonov said.
parties to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
by David Stepanyan
ARMINFO
Saturday, October 4, 13:18
Besides the OSCE Minsk Group, there are other means to restrain the
parties to the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict and to preserve the status
quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, well-known Russian expert Sergey Markedonov
said in an interview to ArmInfo.
"Russia has never questioned the need to preserve the Minsk Group and
the Madrid principles and to cooperate with the United States and
France on the matter. But, on the other hand, they in the Kremlin
cannot neglect the West's attempts to minimize Russia's role in the
post-Soviet area. And President Putin's initiative to organize a
meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents in Sochi was exactly a
response to this process," Markedonov said.
He said that Russia is currently using different mechanisms to
preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh: on the one hand, it is
actively developing its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the Caspian
Sea, on the other, it is involving Armenia in its integration
projects.
"This status quo does not oblige Russia to choose between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Russia's attempts to keep Azerbaijan from becoming second
Georgia do not mean that it is neglecting its strategic partnership
with Armenia. The factor of this partnership is strong enough to sober
the forces seeking to change the status quo. Russia is ready to accept
any solution except war. And Armenia's involvement in the Eurasian
project will be just one more proof that Russia is consistent in this
policy," Markedonov said.