RUSSIA SEEKING NOT TO SETTLE BUT TO MANAGE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT – AZERI OPPOSITION POLITICIAN

Interfax
July 21 2011
Russia

Russia is not interested in having the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settled because it does not want to lose its clout with the South
Caucasus, said Isa Gambar, the leader of the opposition Azeri party
Musavat.

“I do not believe that Russia is interested in solving the conflict at
the present stage. Because the settlement of the conflict would limit
Moscow’s ability to influence the situation in the South Caucasus and
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s policy and decisions,” Gambar said on Echo
Moskvy radio on Thursday.

“Moscow would be interested in having the conflict settled in such
a way as to retain all levers of influence on the situation in the
South Caucasus, but this is unlikely to meet either Azerbaijan’s or
Armenia’s interests,” Gambar said.

“Therefore, I think Russia, as well as the Western countries, is
interested more in managing the conflict than in solving it. And
therefore, I do not pin special hopes on all of these negotiations
that have been held over the past year,” Gambar said.

All political groups in Azerbaijan share the view that Nagorno-Karabakh
should be reincorporated into Azerbaijan, he said.