To Restore Balance Armenia should also be Involved in Regional Transit Network: Stanislav Tarasov
“Existence of Moscow-Tehran-Baku axis is under doubt,” Stanislav Tarasov, columnist at Regnum agency, told 168.am reflecting to Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran summit held in Baku, participants of which were presidents of those countries.
After trilateral extensive summit presidents of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan signed only one document—joint declaration, by which they recorded determination to continue operations together without interfering with each other’s affairs.
In the declaration presidents of the three countries criticized the policy of sanctions, terror with all its manifestations. Parallel to this they qualified the Caspian Sea as a peace, friendship, security and cooperation field. Based on the declaration signed upon the meeting results, the sides confirmed that North-South Corridor of international transport will be implemented in near future.
Within trilateral meeting with leaders of Iran and Azerbaijan in Baku, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is ready to discuss use of pipeline infrastructure to transport hydrocarbons through the Caspian Sea.
Stanislav Tarasov said that by this extraordinary format summit results will be long discussed and analyzed, as during the meeting long-term projects have been marked. However, in his words, it’s early touching upon Moscow-Baku-Tehran axis, as centers of this trilateral format are Tehran and Moscow, which are interested in developing relations with one another.
“Azerbaijan, as the author of this initiative, was the receiving side, had a privilege, however, political initiative is in the hands of Moscow and Tehran, and brotherly Azerbaijan and Turkey aren’t ready yet to come out of their traditional political influence, which casts doubt on the existence and future of this trilateral axis,” Tarasov said, adding that North South Corridor lies on the basis, however, it doesn’t seem practicable yet.
According to him, however, the three countries may develop trade and economic ties with particular accentuation on energy and development of oil and gas resources in the Caspian Basin.
In his words, Azerbaijan’s role in this project is being a transit country. Moreover, according to Tarasov, the role of such country may assume Armenia as well, and these two transit routes may develop parallelly. “In my conviction, if regional balance is maintained between Armenia and Azerbaijan, such a summit should be held with the participation of Armenia.
Armenia, as compared to Azerbaijan, is Russia’s strategic ally. On the one hand, trilateral cooperation may have a restricting influence towards Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan may think over exertion of pressure towards these countries on the other. If an attempt is made to integrate Armenia in that transit network, then Azerbaijan will be obliged to change its policy,” Tarasov said.
Reflecting to the talks that regional occurrences are developing by bypassing Armenia, which maybe will degrade interests of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Stanislav Tarasov said that Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev this time again attempted to make use of the presence of Russia’s president to push forward Azerbaijani position and dictate its agenda to Russia. However, according to Tarasov Russia’s president was rather clear in his comments the day before, which referred to NK conflict settlement.
“Russia’s president stated that Russia doesn’t exert ready-made settlements to the sides, in this issue balanced mutual compromise is necessary between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia’s president also stressed at the meeting with Aliyev that the Russian side will strive that Armenia and Azerbaijan found a solution, which is compromissive, however, acceptable for both sides, so that winners weren’t recorded in this issue. Thus, Russia’s president clarified, that he’s not going to raffle ‘cards’ of Armenia and Karabakh,” Stanislav Tarasov concluded.
By Araks Martirosyan
