Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 30 2008

Armenian pundit expects no big changes after Moscow meeting on Karabakh

Yerevan, 30 October: Director of Oriental Studies Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan does not
expect significant changes in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement after the upcoming November 2 meeting of the Russian,
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents.

Mediamax reports that Ruben Safrastyan said today [30 October] that
Moscow may put certain pressure on the sides, but Azerbaijan and
Armenia should be making decisions independently.

The scientist expressed opinion that Russia’s stirring up
[intensification in its activity] in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement is mainly conditioned by the strengthening of Moscow’s role
in the South Caucasus after August war in Georgia.

According to Safrastyan, Turkey has a jealous attitude towards the
consolidation of Russia’s positions in the region and, by starting a
dialogue with Armenia, tries to consolidate its influence in the
Caucasus, striving to take up the role of a mediator in the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.

"Armenia quite correctly turns down such mission by Turkey, taking
into account its open pro-Azerbaijani stance," the Director of
Oriental Studies Institute stated.

Ruben Safrastyan believes that "after the visit of the Turkish
President to Yerevan, the relations between Yerevan and Ankara have
made a transition to the course of normal diplomatic struggle, in
which the sides defend their national interests". At that one should
not expect to see soon solutions in the given process, taking into
account Ankara’s reluctance to take up real compromises, the scientist
concluded.