Interviews Alexander Karavayev, deputy director general of Moscow State University's Information and Analytical Centre.
Q: How do you assess the results of negotiations between the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia?
A: Conclusions can be drawn after 2 December. According to President Medvedev, the sides were given time until the OSCE summit to prepare proposals on a coordinated variant of the general principles for a settlement. Only then will it become clear whether we are witnessing the latest failure or real progress.
Q: How do you explain Russia's recent activity on a Karabakh settlement?
A: Judging by the number of meetings in the trilateral format and Medvedev's personal, very attentive participation in these negotiations, the Russian president believes this issue is an important component of Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus. This distinguishes Medvedev’s diplomacy from the diplomacy of former President Putin.
Q: Do you believe the 2+1 format (Azerbaijan and Armenia plus Russia) is more effective than the 2+3 format (Azerbaijan and Armenia plus Russia, the USA and France, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group)?
A: It is not the format but the people, the strong political leaders taking part in negotiations, that matters. They alone are able to adopt geopolitically important decisions and bear responsibility for them. A lucky coincidence of factors is needed too, a successful confluence of global vectors that will cause a shift in borders at local level of Karabakh.
Q: Do you agree that “the keys to the Karabakh conflict are in Moscow”?
A: Yes, they were there but until 1992. Then the Karabakh lock became more complicated and acquired many autonomous dimensions. Making use of your analogy, I would like to say that this lock now has a great many bolts. Along with the Moscow keys, there are keys in Yerevan, Baku and America. The lock can be opened only with a combination of all these keys.
W.W.
News.Az
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