Open public threats to resume hostilities in Karabakh were a part of Azerbaijan's strategy as a tool of psychological influence on western powers, international organizations and the Armenian side, an expert said.

"Blackmail was felt in statements by state figures and in the attitude of mind of the Azeri public. Furthermore, Azerbaijan was trying to boost the importance of the oil factor and impose an exhausting armament drive on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh," Sergei Minasyan, head of political studies department at Caucasus Institute, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The August battles in Tskhinvali completely exploded the myth of resumption of war in Karabakh, according to him.

"The August blitzkrieg and unexpectedly quick defeat of Georgia, which decided to take arms to regain South Ossetia, had a sobering effect on Baku. The frustration of Srpska Krajina precedent in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, de jure recognition of the breakaway republics of a world power, demoralization of the Georgian army can hardly be a pleasant perspective for Ilham Aliyev. Baku seems to have realized the consequences of resumption of hostilities in Karabakh. Statements about regain of control over Karabakh have vanished," Minasyan said.