The Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting in Sochi, March 5, was aimed to prevent a new war, Manvel Sargsyan, an expert at the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), told journalists, March 7.

The process remained "up in the air" after the OSCE Summit in Astana, December 2, 2010. The Sochi meeting gave it a "kick-start," he said.

As regards the statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process the Presidents signed as a result of their meeting in Sochi, M. Sargsyan said that it contains a "new point" - the sides agreed to settle all the disputable issues in a peaceful way and investigating possible incidents on the line of contact with the parties` participation, under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs` auspices and with the assistance of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. M. Sargsyan`s general assessment of the Sochi meeting is "a drawn battle."

The political scientist Sergey Minasyan pointed out the Sochi meeting was a "regular" one. According to him, the specific feature of the meeting is that, Baku, at least officially, pledged to "make more retrained steps on the line of contact."

As to which of the sides is now at an advantage, Minasyan said that Azerbaijan has recently, particularly since the Armenian-Turkish process, intensified its militant rhetoric. However, by signing the Sochi statement Azerbaijan has undermined its reputation. "If you threaten with war without unleashing it and, what is more, assume additional responsibility to continue the peace process, it affects your reputation and domestic political arena," Minasyan said.

He proposes being realistic and warns against viewing the Sochi statement as a great diplomatic victory.

Minasyan pointed out that he had great expectations from the meeting with regard to the withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact. That would be a serious concession by Azerbaijan. "However, both the Armenian and Russian President are aware of the need for peace talks, which is the utmost we can get from Azerbaijan," he said.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents held a meeting in Sochi, Russia, March 5, to thoroughly discuss the Nagorno- Karabakh peace process and further prospects.