PROTOCOLS’ SIGNING CHANGED GEOPOLITICAL CONFIGURATION: RUSSIAN EXPERT
News.am
14:03 / 10/15/2009
"Armenia-Turkey Protocols’ signing totally changed the geopolitical
configuration in Caucasus. While the West was not that influential in
the region before, it is now the main actor with increasing impact,"
Russian expert of St. Petersburg Center for Middle East Studies
Alexander Sotnichenko stated. According to him, presently these
agreements were disadvantageous for Russia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. "I
do not know what steps these countries will make, however Azerbaijan
should intensify its diplomacy with the West. Turkey-Azerbaijan
relations are likely to frost," Sotnichenko noted.
Referring to Russia, the expert outlined that this step was a hard blow
to Moscow’s influence in the Caucasus. "Actually, the reconciliation
was reached without Moscow’s participation due to U.S. mediation and
Turkish leadership’s readiness. The Protocols significantly lessen
position of Russia in the Caucasus and the peace-support mission
under the Minsk Group auspices," Sotnichenko concluded.