Russian expert skeptical over possible Swiss role in Karabakh settlement

PanARMENIAN.Net - Development of the economic and social ties between Moscow and Ankara, as well as international issues including Syria and Iran will be in the center of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a Russian political analyst said, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

According to Vitaly Zhuravlev, Karabakh conflict settlement will also be on the agenda of the Moscow-hosted talks.

However, the expert was skeptical that new ideas on the matter will be suggested, considering the mutually contradicting positions of the conflicting parties.

Zhuravlev dismissed the effectiveness of Switzerland’s possible role in the conflict settlement, which was earlier hinted at by Turkey. “The state has no serious political weigh or tools of influence on either Armenia or Azerbaijan. The only possible function for Switzerland to fulfill could be purely mediatory.”

“It’s hardly probable for Bern to be able to draft a viable conflict settlement offer, with a strong negotiation mechanism on the platform of the OSCE Minsk Group already existing.”

“The Model of the Swiss Confederation, though interesting, cannot be applied to Karabakh, considering the latter conflict is both international and territorial, with a religious aspect also present,” the expert said.

“Swiss model is far from optimal, with the country’s surroundings mainly responsible for its political stability,” the expert said, characterizing the idea of Swiss mediation as “unproductive.”