Russia could be guarantor and mediator from Armenian side in talks with Azerbaijan – Sergey Stankevich

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian political scientist Sergey Stankevich commented on the meeting of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev.

“This visit should send two signals for Yerevan. The first signal is that Yerevan has an important resource that needs to be used.

The second signal is that time is running out and should be used correctly. The South Caucasus is consolidating. It is already clear that quite close allied relations are developing—at least economically and financially—between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Turkey is also on the way, while Armenia is the only one that remains on the sidelines of this process of consolidation of the South Caucasus.

As for the resource, Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is ready to become one of the architects and political sponsors of the final reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Stankevich said.

According to the political scientist, Russia could be the guarantor and mediator from the Armenian side in the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Now the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are bilateral. They are, in principle, moving in the right direction, but slowly. There are several moments when both sides need to take steps toward each other. They need help. The final stage of these talks is when two international intermediaries and guarantors can be involved. From the Armenian side, in this case, it could be Russia, and from the Azerbaijani side, it could be Turkey. The visit says just that. It is actually an invitation to Yerevan. You will appeal to Moscow, invite Moscow to join the final part of the talks as a guarantor and mediator. Turkey can join the negotiation process from the Azerbaijani side, and thus Armenia and Azerbaijan are negotiating, while Russia and Turkey are helping them to come to an agreement as soon as possible and achieve a reliable result from the negotiations. That’s actually what it is about. Maybe it would be inappropriate to use such indirect words, but all the necessary diplomatic formulas have been uttered, and I believe Yerevan should hear this signal,” Stankevich concluded.