Forecasting a progress in the Karabakh conflict’s settlement process is like fortune-telling with coffee grounds, Alexander Karavayev, head of Information and Analytical Center for the Study of Socio-Political Processes in the Post-Soviet Space of Moscow State University, told Armenian News-NEWS.am, stressing that the current overpowering trend is maintenance of the status quo.  

“This certainly does not do away with the strengthening of the propaganda war and the war of snipers. In general, conservation is perceived as a more favorable situation for official Yerevan than any type of dynamics,” the analyst stated, adding that Azerbaijan’s military and diplomatic positions have considerably strengthened in recent decades.  

“Baku’s pressure has remained constant. But, aside from the [political] party of war, there is an influential [political] party of peace, in Baku, and very often these two camps are represented by the same persons. But, depending on the situation, they divide into groups. Azerbaijani diplomats and businessmen are ready to speak about peace and economic recovery of the regions around Karabakh. In its turn, Armenia does not have financial resources to develop those territories. In addition, the invested billions are an additional assurance against an unexpected war, which causes concern for Stepanakert. In my view, if Yerevan wishes positive dynamics, it must attempt to find a point of contact with Azerbaijan on the economic model,” Alexander Karavayev concluded.