“The Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting in Astrakhan has shown official Baku’s conceit is nothing but a soap bubble. Its militant statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have vanished into the air as well,” Eduard Sharmazanov, Spokesman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), told NEWS.am.

“Following the meeting, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made it clear that the side might find common ground on the basic principles during the OSCE conference in Astana. This nullifies all the statements on a military settlement of the conflict by official Baku. The Russian President repeatedly stressed the problem has no military solution, which was kind of pressure on Baku,” Sharmazanov said.

Official Baku used to mention only one principle, whereas now the international principle of territorial integrity, peoples’ self-determination and nonuse of force is in question.

“The most important thing is that everyone is well aware that progress in the work at the basic principles depends on how much official Baku will do, as it is Baku that is showing a non-constructive approach. I think in Astrakhan, President Medvedev, using diplomatic terms, explained to official Baku that a military settlement was not an alternative – it is out of the question. The issue must be settled in a peaceful way, under international law, which has repeatedly been stressed by President Serzh Sargsyan and by the Armenian side.  I agree with the President Medvedev’s statement that it has been a beneficial meeting, as any talks are better than no talks. On the other hand, much has yet to be done. Let us wait for official Baku’s response,” Sharmazanov said.

As to the possibility of acts of sabotage by Azerbaijan, Sharmazanov hopes Azerbaijan has drawn lessons from the previous incidents and come to realize it will meet with retaliation by the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces. Official Baku is also well aware that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, first of all Russia, strongly object to acts of sabotage.