The main goal of the June 18 clash in the contact line between Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces was to attract the world’s attention to the Karabakh problem, the Russian military expert Pavel Felgengauer told in interview with RFE/RL.

He stated that the leading world powes are busy with other problems. Under these conditions, the Karabakh conflict fell into the shade. It is not ruled out that they try to remind them of the problem by means of fire. Obviously, Baku needs progress in the peace process for domestic political reasons as well, he noted.

As to Russian authorities’ response to recent events in the line of contact, Felgengauer stressed that the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the region is the most desirable solution for Moscow. “Resumption of hostilities does not meet Russia’s interests,” he added.

The expert deems that Moscow would like to strengthen its military presence in the South Caucasus. “The idea of deploying Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh is not a new one. It was Pavel Grachev (former RF defense minister) who came forward with such an initiative in 1994,” Felgengauer stated.

On June 18, an Azerbaijani reconnaissance detachment intruded into Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, killing 4 Armenian soldiers and wounding 4 others. After an encounter the enemy retreated, leaving one soldier killed and ammunition.