Caucasus rivalry spot for Russia and U.S.July 8, 2009 - 00:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Talks between Russian and U.S. Presidents did not prove efficient, according to an Armenian expert."Caucasus will remain a spot of strong rivalry between Russia and U.S. At that, Turkey will continue acting as United States' plenipotentiary in the region," Sergey Shakaryants told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "Not long before the Obama-Medvedev meeting, Ankara met Russia halfway: it opened talks on Caucasus stability platform with Iran, a move, Washington did not expect," he said, adding that if Turkey tries to revive last year's Caucasian Five format, Russia will toughen position. "Taking into account the latest regional developments, Moscow can initiate inclusion of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the security platform. It can even go further and suggest inclusion of Nagorno Karabakh as well as Ajaria and Nakhijevan," Shakaryants said. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |