Decision to continue talks after presidential meeting a satisfactory result, expert believesMarch 6, 2011 - 15:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - During their recent meeting in Sochi, Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents agreed to go back to implementation of the statement adopted in Astrakhan. Thus, no actual progress was achieved in the settlement of a protracted conflict, a Russian political expert stated. As Sergei Markedonov told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, after yet another rollback, the parties returned to the points agreed on half a year ago. However, the expert characterized the preservation of the negotiation format as a satisfactory result all parties could benefit from. “To Azerbaijan, a war would be fraught with serious social shocks. Armenia would risk loosing everything it gained in the 1990s. For unrecognized NKR, a war would have endangered its physical and political existence. In this situation Russia would have to chose between Yerevan and Baku, and risk its position in South Caucasus. The war would distract Washington from Afghanistan and a complicated geo-political puzzle in Middle East,” the expert explained. Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents - Serzh Sargsyan, Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliyev - adopted a joint statement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement based on the results of their negotiations in Sochi. The document reads that the Presidents considered matters of practical implementation of the trilateral statement adopted during the October 27, 2010, meeting in Astrakhan. Specifically, the Presidents agreed to finalize the swap of POWs as soon as possible. The document stresses the parties’ willingness “to solve all disputable matters peacefully and conduct investigation of possible incidents along the ceasefire line under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group through the assistance of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.” Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |