Sergei Markedonov, a Russian political scientist and leading researcher at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), got the impression from the rhetoric of Western politicians on the Artsakh issue that Russia was not involved in the process at all. Moreover, according to Sergey Markedonov, the West has stopped cooperating with Russia in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process, the settlement of the Artsakh conflict.
The political scientist voiced his impressions during a conference in Yerevan, where one of the topics discussed was the possibility of a confrontation between Russia and the West in the South Caucasus. With a small historical reference, Sergey Markedonov recalled that the process of settlement of the Artsakh issue has always been significantly different, including from the conflicts in the post-Soviet space.
And that was the reason why Russia and the West have always cooperated on the Artsakh issue. Referring to the current stage of the settlement, in particular, the meetings under the auspices of the EU, the political scientist described it as a paradox in the sense that Moscow does not deny Charles Michel’s statements. He considers the problem that in the past, the role of the so-called first violin was Moscow. In the process under the auspices of the EU, the speaker emphasizes one essential feature: “there is an impression that Russia has not been in the talks at all”, while, in his estimation, Russia has more ideas in the settlement process.
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The possible developments in the situation around Armenia and Artsakh are conditioned by the dynamics of developments in the region. In particular, the agreements between Russia and Turkey on the Syrian issue. He believes that Russia and Turkey should not enter into a direct conflict. But in the event of such a confrontation, he is convinced that the West will support Turkey, despite the differences on many other issues.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
