The latest stage of the talks seems to have been under the auspices of Russia, Gagik Harutyunyan, President of the Noravank science and education fund, told NEWS.am, commenting of the Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting in Saint Petersburg on June 17. The Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders used to meet in France or the USA, whereas they are meeting in Russia, under the auspices of the Russian President and Premier.

The aim of Russia’s aspiration to allow the sides to meet is to make the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process follow a more constructive path. “The likely reason is Azerbaijan’s warlike statements, which aroused the international community’s discontent,” said Harutyunyan. He did not make any forecasts.

“Whatever it may be, I cannot say the Armenian-Azerbaijani meeting will ease the situation between the two states,” Harutyunyan said. He accused Azerbaijan, which is going to lose a lot because of its on bellicose statements.

Harutyunyan is sure that further Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meetings will mean the sides have agreed on a certain issue. “If meetings continue, it means the leaders decided to intensify the negotiating process. However, if this meeting is followed by an interval, it will mean the sides failed to understand each other,” Harutyunyan said.