Russian-Azerbaijani relations are in focus of world

Russian-Azerbaijani relations in recent years have been the focus of media attention not only of the two countries, but also the international media, said a member of the Advisory Board of AMI Trend, editor in chief of the Information and Analytical Agency Bulletin of the Caucasus and the deputy dean of the History Department of Moscow State University and political scientist, Alexei Vlasov.

"After 2008 the dynamics of the dialogue between Moscow and Baku has increased significantly and this applies not only to energy issues, but cross-border cooperation, transport linkages and Caspian problems," Vlasov told Trend on Thursday, commenting on the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov to Baku scheduled for April 3-4.

According to the analyst, it is equally important that the negotiations on the settlement of 'bleeding wounds' of the South Caucasus - Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the participation of the Russian President have intensified.

"The mediation efforts of Dmitry Medvedev did not give a specific result, but kept the prospects of the warring parties for a peaceful resolution of conflict open," Vlasov said.
Now, according to Vlasov, the new Russian president, Vladimir Putin will deal with the settlement of frozen conflicts and according to many Azerbaijani media, Lavrov's visit could be considered as a transitional step from age of Dmitry Medvedev to age of Vladimir Putin.

"Some observers believe that Transdniestria will be the new priority of Vladimir Putin and the appointment of a special envoy on the issue, Dmitry Rogozin is the best evidence," Vlasov said.

Other analysts and in particular the head of the Caucasus Research Centre under the RSUH, Ismail Agakishiev believes that Moscow's peacekeeping efforts in the Karabakh conflict will continue, he added.

High-level representatives of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan express the same vein, Vlasov said, referring to the words of the head of the public policy department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan, Ali Hasanov, who said that Azerbaijan expects a lot from Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We expect much from Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement," he added. "There is no other country in the world which would have stronger influence to resolve this conflict. We make this statement, considering the approach to regional issues, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and existing pressure on Armenia.

"Russia's influence on Armenia has no analogues in the world. It can send this country in the desired direction. It can direct it to constructivism in any issue. In this sense, we expect much from Russia which makes the initiatives. Putin and Medvedev have demonstrated efforts in this direction. We think that these efforts will be continued in the future. We will observe significant progress," Hasanov said.

Indeed, Baku expects that Putin will prompt Yerevan to take a more constructive position in the negotiations. Unavailability of Armenia to make the first step and release the occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh is seen in Azerbaijan as an attempt to delay the negotiation process and avoid making responsible decisions that could have a serious impact on the internal situation in Armenia before the parliamentary and then presidential elections, Vlasov said.

"Moscow in turn still believes that signing of a document renouncing force in resolving the Karabakh conflict is also an essential condition for the implementation of the Madrid principles," the expert said.

"How do we get out of this vicious circle, especially at a time when the format of mediation by many experts is under the question? However, in this case it is not about Russia, but of France, but the subject does not change the matter," Vlasov said.

According to him, no one at the moment can say with a high degree of accuracy whether there will be no reset of negotiation process in the event of mediators' composition changes. This question is not idle, and it can be assumed that this 'hot' topic will also be discussed during Lavrov's visit.

"The composition of the Russian delegation is not known yet, but one can assume that the inclusion of the rectors of Russian universities clearly mark another line of cooperation successfully developed in recent years, "Vlasov said.

"Preserving of the common humanitarian, informational, educational field is an indicator of the strength of the bilateral dialogue and guarantee that all disputed issues of bilateral relations, including the matter of the Gabala radar station can be successfully resolved, because no matter how the situation developed in the South Caucasus, Russia and Azerbaijan are two countries that, ultimately, are 'designated' to friendship " the expert said.


/Trend/