L'Occidentale: Russia regaining control of Caucasus

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia is regaining control of the Caucasus with problem-ridden Europe prevented from interfering and thus losing its political influence in the region, says an article titled The Shadow of Stalinism over the Caucasus published in L'Occidentale Italian newsletter.

“Up to late 2008, Russia and the West were in a severe struggle for the influence in the Caucasus. The U.S. and EU tried to stabilize the region in order to free the Caucasus republics from Moscow’s blackmail. However, their strategy didn’t work.

Russia is ruling the Caucasus through “divide and conquer” strategy, using regional conflicts to its own benefit, as is proved by its stance in the unresolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Kremlin is playing a peacemaker’s role, secretly interested in retaining current situation in Karabakh in order to preserve its influence. Moscow is getting on well with Yerevan and upholding rather ambiguous ties with Baku. By acting so, Moscow makes itself essential to conflicting parties while also increasing its political presence,” the article said.

According to the article, Europe and the U.S. took multiple efforts to settle the conflict, their success prevented by confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as Russia’s ambiguous position.

“With Karabakh conflict unresolved, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan will be able to become masters of their own fate,” the article concluded.