RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST SERGEY MARKEDONOV: "RUSSIA’S POSITION ON KARABAKH ALWAYS DIFFERED FROM POSITIONS ON OTHER CONFLICTS"
Today.Az
/politics/44123.html
April 8 2008
Azerbaijan
Russia’s position on Karabakh always differed from positions on other
conflicts, said Russian political scientist Sergey Markedonov.
"As for Nagorno Karabakh, Russia’s position on this de-facto state
always differed from the position on Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Transdniestria. In particular, Karabakh was not mentioned while
adopting a new appeal of the State Duma to the President, regarding the
unrecognized republics", said Markedonov during an online conference
"Policy of Russia in the Caucasus".
He said this is because Russia considers relations with Azerbaijan
not only important but also more successful than Russian-Georgian
relations and therefore "tries to avoid making any stiff assessments,
which may hurt the Azerbaijani leadership".
"Besides, official Moscow considers that all issues regarding Karabakh
can be settled via Yerevan. In this case I don’t say whether it is
right or wrong. It is merely a point of view", Markedonov said.
According to the political scientist, Russia’s position on
Transdnestria may also change, as Kishinev is ready to Moldovan
neutrality and recognition of Russian property on the right bank
of Dniester.
"As for Georgia, I think Moscow will stop on the factual support of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia without formal legal recognition of these
formations", the Russian political scientist said.