ALEXEY VLASOV: MOSCOW SHOULD BRISK UP ENDEAVORS FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.09.2008 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is premature to speak of a formation of a new
"Caucasus vector" in Moscow’s policy, a Russian expert said.

"In fact, Moscow should now intensify its peacekeeping efforts on
Nagorno Karabakh, demonstrating "diplomacy of words" but not only of
force. But is there a plan that could lead to an agreement on this
extremely painful issue? Yerevan is not signaling readiness for
compromise and in order to persuade its ally in the CSTO, Russia
may need time. However, it remains to be seen whether Russia ever
will do so," said Alexei Vlasov, Russian political scientist and
director of analytical programs of the International Institute of
Post-Soviet Studies.

"Furthermore, how promising is Russia’s participation in the
peacekeeping process on Karabakh without participation and support
of other leading countries? Relations with the West may even oblige
Yerevan and Baku to assume mediation."

Mediation efforts of Russia and the United States, mostly play a
decisive role in the resolution of conflicts in the post-Soviet area,
according to him. "But the deeper are the differences between Moscow
and Washington, the fainter are the hopes for combining efforts,"
he said.

"I am pessimistic about this sense, especially if Republicans win the
presidential election in the United States. The policy of "factoring
Russia out" will continue, what means that no effective mediation
would be possible. Unfortunately, the Nagorno Karabakh problem has
been neglected so much that many years of joint efforts are required to
break the deadlock while West’s intention to settle everything through
"standard models" will do no good," Vlasov concluded, Day.az reports.