SERGEY MARKEDONOV: "RUSSIA’S ROLE IN THE RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS RAPIDLY DECLINING"

Today.Az
/politics/45371.html
June 2 2008
Azerbaijan

"Russia’s role in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is rapidly declining unlike the United States as Russia does not
provide material support to "Nagorno Karabakh Republic", said Sergey
Markedonov, chief of department for problems of international relations
under the Institute of Political and Military Analysis and candidate
of historical sciences.

He said Russia does not strive for expanding format of talks on the
conflict resolution with participation of the so-called "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic" as a real participant of the conflict, confining
itself to contacts with Armenia.

"Following declaration of Kosovo’s independence and its recognition
by 30 states, Russia defined its position on Abkhazia and South
Ossetia but prefers to "abstain" from developing a strategy regarding
Karabakh. Meanwhile, this strategy should not be reduced to the choice
between recognition and silence.

The specter of approaches is wider. Meanwhile, positions of official
Yerevan and unrecognized "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" not always
coincide. Undoubtedly, Russia needs stable relations with Azerbaijan,
but recognition of "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" as a participant of the
talks is just a recognition of political reality not of the de-facto
state", noted the Russian expert.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress