Russian Policy of Selling Armaments to Armenia and Azerbaijan is Forced, which Helps to Prevent Disaster: Sergey Stankevich
“Russia is greatly capable to prevent NK armed conflict escalation, however, it failed to accelerate diplomatic settlement of the conflict alone,” Sergey Stankevich, expert at Anatoly Sobchak Fund told during the online press conference organized by Region Research Center, reflecting to Armenia-Russia relations, NK conflict peaceful settlement process and Russia’s assumed role in it.
Giving assessment to the productivity of Russia’s policy on isolation of the West in the South Caucasus, Stankevich said that Russia insists that the security issue of South and North Caucasus countries was settled exclusively by the countries of this region, without external mediation.
In his clarifications, exceptions are possible in case of UNO’s direct mediation, for instance, in the activity of OSCE MG in Karabakh conflict. “Despite the attempts of the USA and its supporters on exerting pressure over Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, they continue like before, those efforts don’t result in considerable long-term changes, which means that Russia’s strategic way in the Caucasus is succeeded,” Stankevich said.
According to the latter, formerly Russia’s policy in the South Caucasus region was allowing painful omissions. Throughout recent years, according to him, rather balanced and pragmatic policy is pursued here—strategic self-sufficiency in security issues, restraint of external influence, Russia, as a mediator and a tool for multilateral peacebuilding.
Regarding Armenia-Russia relations, the expert considers those relations may be qualified as deep strategic partnership.
In his words, they can’t be sacrificed even in case of frequent discordances in separate issues. Touching upon the ongoing situation on NK conflict zone, Sergey Stankevich said that Russia is greatly capable to prevent NK conflict escalation, however, it can’t accelerate diplomatic settlement of the conflict alone. “Here it’ll be necessary to pin hopes on additional diplomatic efforts of OSCE MG, Russia and France.
Karabakh conflict in itself is one of single conflicts in the world history, which is classified to the type of “conflict of three generations.” Under ceasefire, at least three generations should change in the parties to the conflict, so that final and strong settlement was possible,” Stankevich said.
To the question whether NK conflict will become another platform for Russia-West confrontation, Stankevich replied negatively. He believes, that neither Russia, nor the West, nor the parties to the conflict are interested in it.
Clarifying Russia’s policy of supplying armaments to NK parties to the conflict, the Russian analyst stated, that here sober assessment is needed.
In his words, if Russia suspends armaments supply to the region, external suppliers will immediately emerge. As a result we, we’ll have armaments rally with the perspective of inevitable resumption of a large-scale war. Thus, supply keeps balance, restrains and prevents conflict expansion, multiplication of its participants. If we speak directly, it’s a forced policy, which helps to prevent catastrophic scenarios,” Sergey Stankevich said.
To the question why Moscow gives preference to its commercial interests, rather than strategic partnership, he said that Russia doesn’t observe armaments supply in the South Caucasus as an essential source for commercial income.
By Araks Martirosyan
