BAKU: Karabakh Conflict Is Not Russia’s Lever Any More – Russian Pol

KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NOT RUSSIA’S LEVER ANY MORE – RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST

Trend News Agency
May 13 2008
Azerbaijan

"Since long time the Karabakh conflict has no more been the Russia’s
lever for Azerbaijan," Russian political scientist Aleksey Malashenko
said on 13 May during the video bridge devoted to the current
Azerbaijani-Russian relations.

"Just the opposite, the conflicting countries use the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict to exert the pressure on Russia openly stating that they
would join the West if Russia does not stir up its efforts to settle
this conflict," Malashenko said.

According to the political scientist, the conflict must be solved
internally by both the conflicting sides.

"Azerbaijan unambiguously does not hope that Russia will support it
in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, but we still hope that Kremlin
realizes its responsibility not only for its own country but also for
the huge area with which it has tight historical and cultural ties,"
Azerbaijani political scientist Rashad Rzaguliyev said.

"Baku has not created any illusions for itself that Nagorno-Karabakh
problem may be solved at once, but further advancement is possible
and very urgent," Azerbaijani political scientist Rasim Musabeyov said.

"Success may be achieved trough adequate actions. Azerbaijan is a very
important partner for Russia in terms of security, energy cooperation
and provision of stability in the region," Musabeyov added.