Azerbaijan has been extremely intractable in the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement so far and even demanded return of NKR under its jurisdiction, what was absolutely inadmissible for the Armenian side, said Arayik Stepanyan, a corresponding member at the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Studies.

Georgia's fruitless attempt to use force in South Ossetia restrained Azerbaijan's ardor, according to him.

"The Georgian aggression proved that resumption of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh is impossible and the sides took the diplomatic truck. Under the circumstances, Russia took the initiative the U.S. had to agree to. Thanks to Russia, the Karabakh process entered a balanced and diplomatic stage," Dr. Stepanyan said.

"Now, Azerbaijan and Armenia will have to reach a compromise, essential to stabilize the Caucasus, where the interests of the U.S., Russia, Europe and Arab states interlace. To prevent further escalation, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a declaration envisaging a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Azerbaijan knows that resumption of war can question its existence as a state," he said, Russkaya Liniya reports.