MGIMO CENTER OF CAUCASUS RESEARCHES: "IF RUSSIA QUITS ARMENIA, IT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AGAIN"

Today.Az
June 23 2008
Azerbaijan

The meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Russia will promote closing
and integration of the two countries.

The due opinion was voiced by Vladimir Zakharov, deputy chief of the
MGIMO Center of Caucasus Researches on June 23.

"Serzh Sargsyan meets not only with Dmitri Medvedev but also with
Vladimir Putin and Boris Gryzlov and Sergey Mironov, who lead all
branches of Russian powers. And everyone hopes that these meetings
will aim at further closing in the positions of Russia and Armenia",
noted expert.

"It seems that during the visit of the Armenian president a number
of economic and sociopolitical issues will also be considered. Most
of them have been urgent for a long period of time-for example,
a problem, connected with railroad.

Armenia has long been economically isolated and undoubtedly this
situation will be discussed. Naturally, it will be settled soon-such
problems are not settled in one or two days. But definite agreements
are expected in this field, about which we will hear in the near
future", considers the analyst.

According to the expert, one of the most vulnerable issues of bilateral
relations is the further establishment of our strategic partnership,
particularly, understanding of how Russia will further behave in
Armenia.

"Armenian political and business communities are already not homogenius
and not all are positive about Russia. Also most consider that Armenia
is in vain getting involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as it
costs to much to the country.

And, no matter if some of our politicians can take offense at me,
I want to repeat that if Russia leaves Armenia, it will never be able
to return to the South Caucasus again", noted Zakharov.