Expert: Putin’s coming to power will intensify U.S.-Russia rivalry

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO summit proved that the bloc doesn’t strive to replace OSCE Minsk Group in Nagorno Karabakh settlement, Director of RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies said.

“On the one hand, the Atlantic Alliance intensifies presence in the South Caucasus region, which is linked to withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan by 2014. On the other hand, Putin’s coming to power in Russia has already implied toughening of the country’s foreign policy and approaches to resolution of several problems, particularly in ties with the U.S. This will result in intensification of rivalry in the world’s various regions, including the South Caucasus,” Ruben Safrastyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

According to the expert, NATO won’t issue any written assurances to Russia, suggesting missile defense systems are not aimed against it.

On May 20-21, Chicago hosted a NATO summit, with current situation in Afghanistan and the country’s future after withdrawal of the Alliance’s forces by 2014 in focus of the meeting.