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MOSCOW CONTINUES TO PLAY COMPLICATED BALANCING GAME ON KARABAKH
arminfo
Thursday, May 17, 14:09
The Russian government continues to play a complicated balancing act
with regards to the Karabakh issue, and in its relations with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, commonspace.eu experts say.
A summit meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation
(CSTO) held in Moscow this week, which was attended by Armenia which
is a member, but not by Azerbaijan, which is not, has called for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stressed the
principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity and people's
right for self-determination as the basis on which this settlement
could be achieved.
On the other hand Russia continues to supply both sides in the Karabakh
conflict with vast supplies of arms. Military equipment to Baku is
sold at commercial prices, whilst Armenia, which is a member of CSTO
gets most of its arms supplies at reduced prices.
Many observers see a contradiction between Moscow's appeals for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict, and its military arming of the
sides. It stems from Russia's concern that it remains the predominant
power in the region, which requires the goodwill of both governments.
Providing military supplies is one of the strategies in this
direction. On the other hand Russia's diplomatic initiatives around the
Karabakh conflict paused over recent months during the Putin-Medvedev
job swaps. It is not yet clear how they will be resumed, if at all.
arminfo
Thursday, May 17, 14:09
The Russian government continues to play a complicated balancing act
with regards to the Karabakh issue, and in its relations with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, commonspace.eu experts say.
A summit meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation
(CSTO) held in Moscow this week, which was attended by Armenia which
is a member, but not by Azerbaijan, which is not, has called for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stressed the
principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity and people's
right for self-determination as the basis on which this settlement
could be achieved.
On the other hand Russia continues to supply both sides in the Karabakh
conflict with vast supplies of arms. Military equipment to Baku is
sold at commercial prices, whilst Armenia, which is a member of CSTO
gets most of its arms supplies at reduced prices.
Many observers see a contradiction between Moscow's appeals for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict, and its military arming of the
sides. It stems from Russia's concern that it remains the predominant
power in the region, which requires the goodwill of both governments.
Providing military supplies is one of the strategies in this
direction. On the other hand Russia's diplomatic initiatives around the
Karabakh conflict paused over recent months during the Putin-Medvedev
job swaps. It is not yet clear how they will be resumed, if at all.