Nagorno-Karabakh problem might be an issue to disregard when the American and Russian leaders meet in Moscow this week, but it is Washington and Moscow that have played essential roles in the recent developments in the South Caucasus and are believed “to hold keys” for solutions to many thorny issues that have divided the region.
U. S. President Barack Obama on Monday (July 6) is starting a
The parties are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including the global economic crisis, terrorism, and the world's “going nuclear” concerns. But sensitive points in bilateral relations, such as the U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Eastern Europe, and others won't be avoided either.
In April, when Medvedev met Obama at the
The results of the summit potentially have global significance in conditions of the deepening East-West division and global economic recession. No wonder that South Caucasus region will be most attentively following the summit with hopes for potential solutions to their numerous problems as well.
Russia and the United States are key mediators (along with France) in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that has divided Armenia and Azerbaijan for more than two decades. But according to experts, the two powers obviously have different approaches to resolving the conflict.
Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan, says the attitude of the United States towards the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a little different from its attitude towards other “frozen” conflicts in the post-Soviet territory, such as the conflict of Transdnistria in Moldova or the situation in Georgia.
“Neither Russia nor the United States know how to solve this conflict as they cannot choose between the two sides,” says Iskandaryan.
“I think that America now is quite comfortable with the current status quo in this conflict, sometimes playing on one side and sometimes on the other. And Russia is in the same situation as it does not want to sour relations either with Armenia or Azerbaijan,” says the expert.
The U. S., however, is known to oppose Russian attempts to achieve consolidation in the post-Soviet territory and Russia is seeking to curb U.S. influence on its former allies, which causes certain differences in the policies of Washington and Moscow.
Whatever the agenda, the Obama-Medvedev meeting in Moscow is likely to have some influence on how the immediate politics of the South Caucasus shapes — whether it is Georgia-Russia, Turkey-Armenia or Armenia-Azerbaijan relations… Besides, Iran with its nuclear ambitions has never been out of this regional equation.
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