Armenian political analysts on Russian expert=?UTF-8?B?4oCZ?=s statements on Karabakh conflict settlement

Preservation of status-quo in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process is more probable for the coming 2-3 years, former foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan said, speaking to Tert.am.
 
"But the processes promising inclusive geo-political changes have essentially accelerated in the world and in this pre-context we may speak only of short-term forecasts," he said.
 
His last remark relates to the statement of Alexander Dugin, head of Sociology and International Relations chair at Moscow State University, leader of Eurasian Union international movement, made in Yerevan yesterday that the most optimal variant in the situation created over Nagorno Karabakh is preservation of the status quo.
 
Russian political analyst stressed that de facto status is beneficial for Armenia and de jure for Azerbaijan and Iran. The latter does not want Armenia's weakening nor Azerbaijan's strengthening and vice versa and is also for preservation of status quo.The Russian political analyst said that Nagorno Karabakh issue will never be solved.
 
Judging from Arman Melikyan's responses his views in this respect essentially differ from the assessments of the Russian analyst. "It is the case when even the interests of Russia or Iran cannot create long-term guarantees in respect of preservation of regional security and peace," Melikyan said.
 
Thus, Melikyan thinks that the Armenian authorities in particular must have clear ideas of the general orientation of these changes and the real dangers they contain for Armenia.
 
Commenting on Dugin's statement, chairman of the Armenian Union of Political Analysts Hmayak Hovannisian said it testifies that the Karabakh conflict is solved, describing the Russian analyst as "Russian guru of patriots" not displaying much friendliness toward Armenia.
 
In any case Melikyan does not share Hovannisian's optimism in the issue. "In my opinion the Artsakh's future has not got a political solution yet it is dangling in the air and consequently we have still a lot to do in near future to be able to neutralize the possible dangers stemming from the unsolved issue," Karabakh's ex FM said.
 
Chairman of the Globalization and Regional Cooperation analytical center's council Stepan Grigoryan commenting on the Russian analyst's statement said, "I think it is necessary to ask the Azerbaijanis whether status quo is beneficial or not. Dugin states that it is, while I think it is not."
 
But Grigoryan agreed with Dugin that status quo is beneficial for Russia. "Because Russia does not know what will happen if the Karabakh issue is solved. Naturally, if Armenia and Azerbaijan become more independent the degree of sovereignty will grow," he noted.
 
As to Armenia, Grigoryan said he partially agrees that status quo is in some respect beneficial for it as the Azerbaijani tough stance is quite known. "But in future, it is obvious that starting from some moment the Karabakh issue must be solved," the analyst said.   Read more... (478 words)

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