What was the influence Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia exerted on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process? Answering the question, Manvel Sargsyan, expert for the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, said: “It is difficult to speak of an immediate influence, but the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have been actively trying to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem for a year, of course, has to do with it. The situation has changed and we can witness a stronger interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.”

On the other hand, the situation has changed on the whole. “The recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia and of Kosovo by the West has altered the course of discussions of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. More has been talked about the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh this year, and the issue has actively been discussed. For example, speaking of Kosovo, U.S. President Barack Obama stated that people struggled for independence, which, he said, was indicative of a new situation. Of course, there also exist new, Russia-related, threats. It is clear that, last year, Russia was doing its best to extend its achievements in Georgia to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. That was dangerous, as, if any individual country tries to find solutions, others start making steps. For example, Turkey’s activity has added to disagreements between superpowers,” Sargsyan said.

As to what was Nagorno-Karabakh’s benefit from temporarily refraining from participating in the Russia-initiated meetings of the leaders of unrecognized states, the expert said the meetings would hardly exert any essential influence on the development of Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. “I do not think it was Nagorno-Karabakh participating in the meetings or not that accounted for Russia’s position. Russia’s attitude to the problems of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is entirely different from that to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem – these are basically different directions. In the context of international relations, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is much more serious. Of course, Russia might as well recognize Nagorno-Karabakh, but it would not have anything in common with other tasks. It has to do with Russia’s interests in this issue,” Sargsyan said.