Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, said that the Vilnius summit of November 28-29 will be a kind of an experiment for the Eastern Partnership to counterbalance Russia. Ukraine will be the only object of the experiment, he predicts. The expert added that any active trend towards the EU will only worsen relations with Russia.
Yevseyev explained that, regardless of what people say, the Eastern Partnership only caused a schism among states, because there were NATO interests behind it. Ukraine’s move would be important for all counties of South Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan and Georgia, to see the pros and cons of EU association.
Maksim Shevchenko, a member of the Russian Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, reminded about the deepness of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, calling them friendly, although not without problems. Russia and Azerbaijan cooperate in developing Caspian resources, protecting its environment. Millions of Azerbaijanis live in Russia. The expert pointed out the Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia format of relations. Russia has ties with Armenia within the framework of the CSTO, however, the organization would not stand against Azerbaijan, should any combat in Nagorno-Karabakh start. Moreover, Shevchenko noted that there were misunderstandings, such as the words of Andrey Ruzinsky, Commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, that should not influence relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, said that the Vilnius summit of November 28-29 will be a kind of an experiment for the Eastern Partnership to counterbalance Russia. Ukraine will be the only object of the experiment, he predicts. The expert added that any active trend towards the EU will only worsen relations with Russia.Yevseyev explained that, regardless of what people say, the Eastern Partnership only caused a schism among states, because there were NATO interests behind it. Ukraine’s move would be important for all counties of South Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan and Georgia, to see the pros and cons of EU association.Maksim Shevchenko, a member of the Russian Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, reminded about the deepness of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, calling them friendly, although not without problems. Russia and Azerbaijan cooperate in developing Caspian resources, protecting its environment. Millions of Azerbaijanis live in Russia. The expert pointed out the Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia format of relations. Russia has ties with Armenia within the framework of the CSTO, however, the organization would not stand against Azerbaijan, should any combat in Nagorno-Karabakh start. Moreover, Shevchenko noted that there were misunderstandings, such as the words of Andrey Ruzinsky, Commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, that should not influence relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
