YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily has learned that the talks, which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held recently in Switzerland, were conducted under a rather heavy climate, the daily reported.

“The sole major progress was the ‘tête-à-tête,’ ‘which likewise is not minor because, by and large, [Azerbaijan President Ilham] Aliyev does not care about anyone, and first and foremost, the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs. The only thing he fears (…) is the prospect of a Russian invasion, the repeat of the Ossetia-Abkhazia-Crimea scenarios, with the end result.  

‘“It is very difficult to say that Aliyev ‘shifted back’ during these talks because he has calculated his resources very well, and he is preparing for a long standoff, with the shooting-counter shooting precept, to squeeze the Armenia party.

‘“Incidentally, now Aliyev deals with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict very little; he does not have the time for it anymore. The task of maintenance of power is critical to him,” said our source, who masters the nuances of negotiation, adding that, in all cases and apparently, another [Minsk Group] American co-chair will soon replace J. [i.e. James] Warlick,” Hraparak wrote.