Armenian political scientist: "Azerbaijan is a serious economic, geopolitical and geopolitical power in the region"

"The trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia in Moscow is a logical continuation of the Russian policy, aimed at establishment of its dominating position in the South Caucasus", considers Ruben Akopyan, political scientist and head of the center of political analysis.

The expert considers that the conflict in South Ossetia in August of 2008 showed the seriousness of Russia's intention to defend its rights in the region and the new stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement will base on Russia's interests.

"The declaration must be considered in the context of the whole regional development of events, rather than a separate attempt of the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The South Ossetian conflict formed a new situation and this stage of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict must be considered as a logical continuation of this new stage", said he.

According to Akopyan, the main lesson of the South Ossetian conflict is that Russia proved that it has national interests in the said region and is ready to protect its rights by any means, including forced.

"Russia tries to fully embrace this region under its influence thus preserving peace here. The new stage of developments in the Karabakh problem settlement should be considered in this context. Russia will come out from its interests in the resolution of the Karabakh problem", said Ruben Akopyan.

The political scientist also considers that under Russia's patronage Azerbaijan has more advantages than Armenia in the resolution of the Karabakh problem.

"Azerbaijan is a serious economic, geopolitical and geographical power in the region. Such a strong factor as a presence of the Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance should also be attributed here. Russia also does not mind becoming the transit country for transportation Azerbaijani energy sources to Europe or use its energy sources as a consumer and having Azerbaijan among its friends, Russia will, in fact, settle the issue of her hegemony in the region.

Therefore, today Russia tries to please Azerbaijan. But it is clear that Russia should pay something for it. The issue of Karabakh is in the basket of methods of "pleasing" Azerbaijan. Time will show how Russia will use this component. Armenia has nothing to give Russia, we have already given everything that we had. In the future, Armenia may also have some advantages.

Thus, at the current stage the process of the Karabakh conflict resolution is in favor of the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance, which is obvious. It has always been like that: if interests of Russia and Turkey coincide in something, Armenia always loses", said the political scientist.

/Regnum/