Levon Ter-Petrosyan: "Russia will not be able to prevent the unilateral resolution of the Karabakh conflict by the West"

"Though it is paradoxical, but after recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia's influence is declining in the region", said Ter-Petrosyan at an opposition meeting on October 17.

According to him, being fully busy with the global political crisis after the conflict with Georgia, Russia will hardly be able to resist West's position in the Karabakh issue, as well as West's attempt for changing the mediation format.

"This may lead to the weakening of Russia's position in the South Caucasus, which threatens with unpredictable geopolitical implications", said he, noting that in the result Azerbaijan will secede from the CIS and Russian armed bases can be withdrawn from Armenia.

According to the former president, who led several opposition powers in Armenia, Russia will not be able to prevent the unilateral resolution of the Karabakh conflict by the West, like the West was unable to avert recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

He noted that the only factor, playing in Russia's favor, may become worsening of the world financial crisis, which will lead to West's concentration on this issue and create definite obstacles before its program of the Karabakh conflict resolution.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan also noted that this issue has recently lost its urgency for superstates, giving place to war on terror and situation around North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

/Regnum/