April 8, 2008 - 15:14 AMT
Russia interested in good relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
The thesis on Russia's leaving the South Caucasus premature, said head of the Interethnic Relations Department at the Institute of Political and Military Analysis in Moscow.

"Russian peacekeepers base in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, there is a Russian military base in Armenia, there is Gabala radar base in Azerbaijan. Russian business in the South Caucasus, including Georgia, is also an important factor. Russia is interested in equally good relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia," Sergei Markedonov said during "Russia's policy in Caucasus" online conference.

Asked whether the attempt to carry out a 'color revolution' in Armenia was targeted at shift in Armenia's foreign policy, Mr Markedonov said, "The revolution could be viewed as such if the first President had scored a victory."

"As to Armenia's foreign policy, I would like to remind that all base documents regarding the Russian-Armenian military and political presence in the republic were drawn up under Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In this respect, Armenia has always adhered to a complementary foreign policy, maintaining relations not only with Russia but also with Iran, the U.S. and EU. Armenia's first-ever NATO IPAP was implemented under Kocharian. However, it doesn't mean that he is a pro-American politician. There are no pro-Russian or pro-American politicians in Yerevan. There are pro-Armenian politicians. Both Ter-Petrosyan and Kocharian are pro-Armenian. Serzh Sargsyan will not be an exception. As to domestic policy, different political figures have different opinions," he said, Novosti Georgia reports.