NEWS.am: How will the ties between the US and Russia that have taken a new start with the President Obama visit to Moscow affect on the development of the situation in the South Caucasus, and on the process of finding solution to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh?

Well first of all, it is not entirely clear that the U.S. Russian relations really take a new start with Obama's visit to Moscow. It is not clear that an agreement was reached on the substantial issue of the ballistic missile defense (BMD) system in Poland and Czech Republic. Furthermore, the U.S. administration has thus far steered clear of the negotiations in the Caucasus

NEWS.am: In your mind, is there any move toward the closure of the both sides concerning the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue?

No, not at all. The Obama administration does not have the bandwith to get involved with this issue.

NEWS.am: What is a specific difference of the US and Russia approaches to the problem in Nagorno Karabakh?

The difference is that the U.S. does not want to get involved, while Moscow is comfotable using the issue to make itself indispensible to both Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is a win win for Russia.

NEWS.am: I would also like to know your opinion on the perspective of Armenia-Turkish relations, and how do the US and Russia influence on the process of normalization between the sides?

Russia is encoraging the negotiations because they continue to sour the relations between Baku and Ankara, something that Russia is very comfortable with. Meanwhile, the U.S. is completely outside of these negotiations.