Interview with Andrei Areshev expert of the Strategic Culture Foundation.
Q: Is it possible to speak about the thaw in the relations between Russia and West, in particular NATO, spoken of today and how can these relations influence the resolution of problems in the post-Soviet area?
A: The relations between Russia and NATO are incomplete, the process continues and it is quite difficult to predict its dynamics in the nearest future. Though most speak of the thaw but it seems to me that this thaw is mostly related to NATO’s interest in the use of Russian resources for the resolution of the problems, the alliance is facing on the Eurasian continent. I primarily mean the Afghan problem, as well as the resolution of some problems in the post-Soviet area (though to the lesser extent).
I think the issue of whether the further expansion of NATO to the post-Soviet area and strengthening the role of the alliance in the resolution of conflict situation is quite arguable. Therefore, I think the Russia-NATO summit did not lead to quite a serious breakthrough and this is objectively caused by the established uneasy situation.
Q: Do you think Russia and the United States cooperate or compete between each other in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict?
A: I think the relations between Russia and the United States, in particular, in the context of the Karabakh conflict, have several contours. The external contour is naturally, both countries are the Minsk Group co-chairs and they mediate the attempt to settle the conflict. Meanwhile, it seems to me that the conflict is used not only by Russia but also the United States and other actors for the implementation of their geopolitical interests in the South Caucasus region. And here, certainly, there are moments, primarily, when we analyzed the position of the United States, which need the South Caucasus as a platform intended to curb Iran on its northern borders. As for Russia, it is not interested in any destabilization and resumption of large hostilities. Therefore, it maintains close relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, using different formats of cooperation. As we know, in the case with Armenia it is primarily the military and political cooperation and in the case with Azerbaijan the accent is laid on joint energy projects.
Q: What about the countries of the region, which also demonstrate activeness or want to do so in the resolution of the problem of Karabakh?
A: We cannot reject the presence of interests of other countries, including those having a direct border with the South Caucasus, in particular, the Karabakh area. It would be naive to say that these states would not take any actions aimed to preserve status quo.
Thus, I would like to repeat that the Karabakh conflict has several contours and this is where it is necessary to search the reasons of the lack of breakthrough despite numerous optimistic statements, along with the objective complicacy of the conflict. And I think it is quite difficult to expect a breakthrough in the nearest future.
Andrei Areshev, research worker of the Center of Study of Central Asia and Caucasus of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Science, expert of the Strategic Culture Foundation.
Lala B.
News.Az
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