Putin breaks Armenia's last hope

Russia broke this last hope of Armenians following the United States, as well as countries, joining the European Union.

Though Armenians hoped that Russia will recognize independence of all self-appointed republics, including the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh republic" in case other countries recognize Kosovo, official Moscow gave a definite negative response to it on the high level.

Vladimir Putin was unambiguous during the traditional annual meeting in the Kremlin with mass media representatives and his response did not leave any doubt about the position of our northern neighbor on this issue.

Thus, speaking about possible recognition of Kosovo, Putin blamed the European countries with application of double standards and said the following: "The independent republic of Northern Cyprus has existed for already 40 years. Why nobody recognizes its independence? It is a shame to apply double standards to resolution of one and the same problems in different regions of the world. Here, we have Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdnestria which are almost independent. We are all told that Kosovo is a special case. This is a lie. There is nothing special in this case. Everyone is well aware of it. The ethnic conflict, crimes, de-facto independence. It is necessary to form a single principle of the problem resolution".

Putin did not call the separatist Nagorno Garabagh, among other self-appointed republics, which evidences that Russia joins other countries, recognizing Nagorno Karabakh as an occupied land. We can imagine Armenians' happiness when Russia said that the Kosovo precedent can be applied to other self-appointed countries and their disappointment with the categoric statement of the head of Russian state.

Frankly speaking, Azerbaijan still had doubts regarding Russia's position in this issue and reporters and political scientists came out with various proposals regarding Azerbaijan's actions in case of any steps of the Russian side. However, the experts, who predicted that Russia will not equate Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh, have won in this case.

The most important in this issue was that the announcement of the Russian President once more proved correctness of Azerbaijan's position on the issue of Kosovo.

It should be noted that some were skeptical about the announcements of Azerbaijan's officials that our country has diplomatic advantages as compared to Armenia and this success is growing.

Probably, Putin's words open new opportunities for Azerbaijan in the negotiation process with Armenia. Armenia's closest ally, to which it bounds all its hopes, does not intend to recognize independence of separatists in Nagorno Karabakh and does not intend to give up the position, according to which, official Moscow recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

On the whole, the situation is difficult for the Armenian diplomacy. At first, there came a diplomatic knockout to Armenia's Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan from Turkey's Prime Minister Redjep Taip Erdogan in Munich at a conference on security, while now the external policy of the country has been striken by Putin.

Well, let's wait until the world community raises Azerbaijan's hands as a sign of victory over Armenia.

/Day.Az/