Russia�s dominance in Karabakh comes to an end - T. Zulfugarov

Baku / 21.11.17 / Turan: The current visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was remembered primarily by the fact that it was absolutely meaningless from the point of view of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. During the visit, the same language was used as before.

This opinion expressed in the interview to Turan the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Tofig Zulfugarov. Despite the excitement that some media tried to create, the visit itself showed that there will be no real progress.

Lavrov's visit once again showed that the settlement issue is at this stage an element of domestic policy for Armenia, which is completing the reform in order to preserve Sargsyan's political power. That's why the Armenian leadership continues imitating the negotiation process, Zulfugarov continued.

He drew attention to the fact that a number of Azerbaijani commentators recently identified Lavrov as the leader of pro-Armenian forces in the Russian Federation, interfering with Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

"His one-sided pro-Armenian policy is obvious to everyone. Unfortunately, a program was created for him in Baku, including a speech before the students. Usually, such speeches are planned, as an indicator of special location for the guest," Zulfugarov said.

The topic of Lavrov's speech at the University of ADA was also very strange.

"Such an invitation to Lavrov was superfluous, taking into account the scandal at the beginning of the year, when he announced the loss of Azerbaijan's sovereign rights over Nagorno-Karabakh," Zulfugarov said.

How can the world community move the process from the settlement of the conflict?

Answering this question Zulfugarov noted that many international players believe that Russian domination is so great in Azerbaijan and Armenia that it is senseless to connect with others.

However, such dominance and, rather,Lavrov"s than Russian, is coming to an end.

"There are such signals. In any case, the activation of the American side seems very, very likely for me. The second component is the activation of regional forces. First of all, increasing the role of Turkey, "Zulfguarov stressed.

In his view, Putin's discussion with Turkish President Erdogan of the Karabakh settlement should not be viewed as a personal initiative of Erdogan.

The fact is that the political processes surrounding the settlement testify to the high probability of the resumption of hostilities. Moreover, military actions will already be between the two states. In this context, the factor of Nakhchivan acquires special significance.

Turkey has obligations to the international plan to ensure the security of Nakhchivan, and in case of hostilities, as Armenians suggest, Russia will be involved, but then Turkey can intervene.

"A specific international configuration is being built when Turkey is obliged to consider it in the context of its own security, including friendly alliance obligations to Azerbaijan," the ex-minister said.

According to Zulfugarov, Turkey declared its own active participation in the settlement process and this participation will only increase.

Iran as a regional country will also take some steps. Therefore, ensuring stability and security in the region without conflict resolution and the participation of regional forces is simply impossible.

"I think that Western countries will want to take part in this process. So, Lavrov's visit once again showed that we are at a turning point, when the former configuration is being destroyed and a certain new balance of forces is being formed," Zulfugarov summed up. -06B--