The last meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan was different from previous ones, political scientist Sergey Shakaryants told a press conference in Yerevan today. According to him, the meeting was different since the president met without witnesses. “The essence of the Karabakh issue is not so interesting in Russia. If Armenia and Azerbaijan seek to resolve the conflict on the basis of their state interests, then the objectives of Russia are different,” Mr. Shakaryants said, noting that Russia has its own game in the region and collect ‘advantages’ to address its strategic challenges, not related to Nagorno Karabakh conflict .
“Moscow will not allow anyone in or through Turkey to assert their interests in the South Caucasus. This is testified by the fact that even before the meeting of the Presidents in Moscow the certain information had been circulated about the statements of CSTO representatives on the deployment of the CSTO troops in the conflict zone after signing the agreement on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement,” Mr. Shakaryants said.
He also stressed that Iran will be against the deployment of western peacemakers in the conflict zone. “I am not the representative of Iran, but I understand the situation very well. I would not want NATO troops standing at my northern border, ” Mr. Shakaryants said. He noted, that the reason is not that Iran does not entrust the West or NATO, but just does not want see on its border troops of confronted countries. “Similarly, as Russia does not want to see at its borders the forces, which could destabilize its southern regions. Yerevan and Baku should have take it into consideration,” Mr. Shakaryants concluded.
