NATO is behind Azerbaijan`s latest threats to Nagorno-Karabakh Mikhail Aleksandrov, Doctor of Political Science, Head of a department, Institute of the CIS, stated at the press conference on prospect for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Double standards are applied in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Russia has to maneuver in dealing with Armenia and Azerbaijan, making advances to both. The West`s position on the Armenian Genocide in Karabakh remain unclear. It is not clear why the democratic authorities in Armenia and the totalitarian regime in Azerbaijan are put on the same level," Aleksandrov said.

According to him, Azerbaijan`s threats are a form of pressure on Armenia, and it is the West that benefits from the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"If you are a loser, you have to make concessions. Azerbaijan is actually a loser, but it is trying to force Armenia into concessions. The West, particularly NATO, is behind it," Aleksandrov said.

NATO needs Azerbaijan as a Caucasian corridor to the Caspian region. NATO succeeded in persuading Georgia into joining the alliance. Azerbaijan, however, was hesitating. So NATO found a "press" for Azerbaijan - Nagorno-Karabakh, Aleksandrov said.