“Russia does not need another conflict on its border”

By Kommersant

 

The Karabakh conflict will not hinder Armenia from joining the Customs Union. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan declared their readiness for a peaceful settlement of the conflict after the meeting with the Russian president. Experts say that Russia does not want the situation in the disputed region to escalate.

The Karabakh conflict will not complicate joining the Customs Union for Armenia, it was stated after the Sochi negotiations of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders with the Russian president. The sides admitted that the most complex issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem had not been resolved. But the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides confirmed their readiness for a peaceful settlement.

 

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev:

“The UN Security Council passed four resolutions that require the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from the territory of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, more than two decades have passed and the resolutions have been left on paper. The local group represented by the co-chairs works, tries to move the sides closer, but it does not work very well.”

 

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan:

“The Azerbaijani side keeps referring to the four UN resolutions. I have a question for Mr. Aliyev: what point of the resolutions has Azerbaijan complied with? The only one to comply with the points is Armenia, that uses its influence to stop military actions. If we accuse each other again, I think that the conflict will remain unsettled for a long time.”

 

Russia plans to continue participating in international meetings to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Vladimir Putin. In addition, in the president’s words, Moscow plans to use the special feature of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia in such negotiations. Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev said that they were expecting Russia to help in the issue. The problem cannot be resolved fast, Russian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Anatoly Adamishin supposes.

“In fact, Russia achieved a ceasefire in 1994 and it has been in force ever since. But, unfortunately, there have been no political steps taken to resolve the conflict after it. There are no direct decisions, such as, for example, to make Karabakh Armenian, and Armenians leave the occupied territories. There can be complicated decisions, they can concern exchange of territories, but I see no big chances so far,” said Adamishin.

Armenia and Azerbaijan gain no benefit from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia wanted it settled because it planned to restore influence in the region, noted Ismail Agakishiyev, a docent of the History Faculty of the MSU, an expert of Vestnik Kavkaza.

“Considering the latest events in Ukraine, Russia does not need another conflict on its border. Armenia does not benefit from it. Armenia is in an economic blockade. Even if Armenia joins the European Union, it has no geographic pages with any country. It may have relations only through the territory of Azerbaijan. There are other forces, there is Turkey that goes into a plateau, there are the interests of the United States. It may simply open the Turkish border. Then the influence of Russia on the territory would suffer a big blow,” Agakishiyev assumes.

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has continued since 1988. In July 2014 the situation deteriorated greatly. Dozens of people died in shootings.

Moscow plans to restore influence in regionBy KommersantThe Karabakh conflict will not hinder Armenia from joining the Customs Union. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan declared their readiness for a peaceful settlement of the conflict after the meeting with the Russian president. Experts say that Russia does not want the situation in the disputed region to escalate.The Karabakh conflict will not complicate joining the Customs Union for Armenia, it was stated after the Sochi negotiations of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders with the Russian president. The sides admitted that the most complex issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem had not been resolved. But the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides confirmed their readiness for a peaceful settlement.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev:“The UN Security Council passed four resolutions that require the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from the territory of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, more than two decades have passed and the resolutions have been left on paper. The local group represented by the co-chairs works, tries to move the sides closer, but it does not work very well.”Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan:“The Azerbaijani side keeps referring to the four UN resolutions. I have a question for Mr. Aliyev: what point of the resolutions has Azerbaijan complied with? The only one to comply with the points is Armenia, that uses its influence to stop military actions. If we accuse each other again, I think that the conflict will remain unsettled for a long time.”Russia plans to continue participating in international meetings to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Vladimir Putin. In addition, in the president’s words, Moscow plans to use the special feature of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia in such negotiations. Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev said that they were expecting Russia to help in the issue. The problem cannot be resolved fast, Russian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Anatoly Adamishin supposes.“In fact, Russia achieved a ceasefire in 1994 and it has been in force ever since. But, unfortunately, there have been no political steps taken to resolve the conflict after it. There are no direct decisions, such as, for example, to make Karabakh Armenian, and Armenians leave the occupied territories. There can be complicated decisions, they can concern exchange of territories, but I see no big chances so far,” said Adamishin.Armenia and Azerbaijan gain no benefit from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia wanted it settled because it planned to restore influence in the region, noted Ismail Agakishiyev, a docent of the History Faculty of the MSU, an expert of Vestnik Kavkaza.“Considering the latest events in Ukraine, Russia does not need another conflict on its border. Armenia does not benefit from it. Armenia is in an economic blockade. Even if Armenia joins the European Union, it has no geographic pages with any country. It may have relations only through the territory of Azerbaijan. There are other forces, there is Turkey that goes into a plateau, there are the interests of the United States. It may simply open the Turkish border. Then the influence of Russia on the territory would suffer a big blow,” Agakishiyev assumes.The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has continued since 1988. In July 2014 the situation deteriorated greatly. Dozens of people died in shootin