February 14, 2009 - 12:53 AMT
Karabakh problem not urgent for Turkish-Armenian relations
The Nagorno Karabakh problem was probably discussed during the Russian-Turkish presidential talks in Moscow but it was not among priorities, a Russian expert said.

"The visit of Turkish President Gul has followed the talks between Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and his Armenian and Azeri counterparts," Andrey Areshev, expert at the Strategic Culture Fund, told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Further activities depend on the policy the new U.S. administration takes up. On the one hand, it gives the sides an opportunity to verify positions; on the other hand, some forces can use the pause for provocations, as it was in case with "Russian arms transfer to Armenia." The international mediators keep saying that they can't make decisions instead of the sides. Meanwhile, despite flows of misinformation poured upon ill-informed publics, Azerbaijan's threats and violations of the ceasefire clearly point out to the side which doesn't want peace," he said.

Regional powers - Russia, Turkey and Iran - are not interested in destabilization of South Caucasus, according to him.

"Ankara's stability and security platform should be thoroughly studied. Nevertheless, serious disagreement still persists and Turkey's interference in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process will hardly be welcomed by Tehran and Moscow," Areshev said.