EUGENI VOLK: "WHEN AZERBAIJAN HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE WEST AND RUSSIA, ITS CHOICE WILL BE IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST ONE"

Today.Az
ics/50694.html
Feb 16 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is now skillfully maneuvering between Russia and the
West, observing a definite balance of interests. However, in the
geopolitical and strategic context in which Azerbaijan exists, its
choice in West’s favor is inevitable, said Eugeni Volk, head of the
Russian representative of the Heritage Foundation and candidate of
historical science.

He said intensification of Russia’s and Turkey’s efforts will hardly
lead to the soonest resolution of the conflict around Nagorno Karabakh.

"Positions of its direct participants are still far from each
others. Moreover, Russia can be objectively interested in maintaining
this conflict at a certain degree of tensions, as it allows it to
influence both Armenia and Azerbaijan. In case of resolution, these
levers can be lost while the initiative in the region will fully pass
to the West", concluded Volk.