Karabakh problem should be resolved by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The fate of a Caucasus alliance is in the hands of leading regional powers - Russia and Turkey, a Russian expert said.



"All understand that conflicts damage not only political but also economic relations. Armenia is surrounded by Turkey and Azerbaijan, what hampers it economic development," said Alexander Sotnichenko, senior lecturer at St. Petersburg State University.



At the same time he remarked that routing its oil via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku suffers huge losses. "The pipe goes around Armenia, thus becoming one of the most expensive and unprofitable," he said.



"The problems should be resolved consistently, without interference of countries which don't know anything about the situation in Caucasus," the expert emphasized.



As to absence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh in the Stability and Cooperation Platform, Sotnichenko said, it's not an obstacle for economic and political ties. "Russia and Japan hasn't signed a peaceful agreement yet, but it doesn't hamper normal relations. Turkey has the problem of Cyprus. The EU views Turkey as occupant but enjoys good relations with it. So, such problems are solvable," he said.



Touching on the Karabakh problem, the expert said, "If we recognize Karabakh, we will damage relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The problem should be resolved through talks, with participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia," Nakanune.ru reports.