Epress.am News from Armenia
The “gas in exchange for territories” version in Karabakh’s case might be considered behind the scenes, but it cannot be put into effect since the key to the Karabakh problem is in Moscow, said Director of Energy Programs at NOMOS Corporation in Ukraine Mikhail Gonchar in an interview with Vesti.az.
According to him, one should not expect that Russia will pressure Armenia in some way, thereby encouraging Armenians to resolve the Karabakh issue by returning to the status quo. “This approach is not serious, because Russia won’t make that move. Moscow is not prepared to swap Yerevan with Baku as its strategic partner. If Baku has any illusions that such a move is possible, then it’s nothing more than an illusion,” he said.
“Armenia is not a subject of the Russian Federation, to do Moscow’s bidding. Moreover, in critical situations, NKR can become less manageable by Yerevan as it now seems to many. If Karabakh is sacrificed, it’s unlikely that Armenia will become a silent and passive participant. In any case, we will immediately get a heated conflict, with unpredictable consequences,” said Gonchar.
For Azerbaijan, said Gonchar, it’s better to abstain from war. “Azerbaijan must take into account that the enemy becomes more dangerous when cornered. If Baku forces Armenians into a deadlock, the events will develop in an unpredictable manner.”
Photo: waronline.org