Karabakh issue is not at the stage where it can be settled under two sides’ accord, Caucasus Institute Director Alexander Iskandaryan said in the course of Jan. 18 Yerevan-Moscow telethon, underlining that in this respect Armenia-Turkey reconciliation cannot influence Karabakh peace process in any way.

According to Iskandaryan, even if Armenia-Turkey relations entail the opening of the embassies in both states “it might not directly bring to Karabakh conflict settlement.” He also stated that intensification of Ankara-Moscow cooperation will inevitably result in changes in communication-transportation field and energy projects. In its turn this will definitely affect the course of Karabakh peace process.

Alexander Skakov, the expert of Russian Institute of Strategic Studies outlined that improvement of Russian-Turkish or Armenian-Turkish relations will impact not the result but process of Karabakh conflict settlement. First, it will dramatically weaken Baku’s position as for Azerbaijan it was the pressure factor on Yerevan. Besides, improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations will make Yerevan more compliant, though it does not mean that Armenia would be ready to cede Karabakh, Skakov considers.

A.G.