SERGEY SHAKARYANTS: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS REMAIN A PRIORITY IN THE REGION
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
20.04.2010 18:18

"This is President Serzh Sargsyan’s second meeting with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev this year. This means, that despite the
recent developments, the Armenian-Russian ties remain a priority in the
region," political expert Sergey Shakaryants told a press conference
today. Saying ‘recent developments,’ Shakaryants means the progress in
the Armenian-Russian relations, the Armenian-American rapprochement,
the tension between Iran and the West.

According to Sergey Shakaryants, the future developments in the region
greatly depend on Iran. Recently Iran suggested its mediation in the
Karabakh conflict settlement process. Iran’s Foreign Minister declared
yesterday that Azerbaijan did not mind its mediation despite the fact
that the two countries have unsettled issues.

"It has occurred to Turkey and Azerbaijan that through Iran the will
be able to make Armenia refuse from mediating efforts of the United
States, Russia and France," the political scientist said. However,
Armenia makes it clear that no change of the format of negotiations
is envisaged, he added.