VISIT OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT TO BAKU WILL POSSIBLY NOT BE HELD THIS YEAR, RUSSIAN ANALYST THINKS

PanARMENIAN.Net - 09.11.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "Under the information I have the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for this year will possibly not be held," Russian analyst Andranik Margarian said in his interview to Mediamax.

As to the prospects of the Russian-Azeri cooperation Mr. Mihranian stressed that there are forces in Russia which tries to restore the Russian presence in Azerbaijan. At the same time the Mihranian stressed that "there is another part of military and political elite of Russia which considers that such steps may jeopardize the real presence of Russia in Armenia."

According to Margarian, Armenia is a corner-stone for Russia that makes Russia's presence in the South Caucasus more tangible and decisive. "The Russian state policy is based on pragmatism and I don't think that any drastic changes may be expected in the foreign political approaches of Russia in the South Caucasus," Mihranian stressed.

As for the statement by the Russian President Vladimir Putin on neutral position of Russia in Karabakh settlement - the one made during the official visit of the Armenian President Robert Kocharian to Russia - it is motivated by diplomatic factors, Mihranian said. --0--