Armenia Remains Russia's Only Political Ally in South CaucasusDecember 15, 2006 - 15:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia has failed to elaborate a strategy on the South Caucasian states and this resulted in indistinct foreign policy towards these states, head of the center of Caucasian Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Vladimir Zakharov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net "I can say that Russia assumed a strange and temporizing position. Absence of precise interests in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia leads to wrong decisions. With all responsibility I say that Russia has maintained one political ally in the South Caucasus - Armenia. On one hand it gratifies but on the other hand it upsets because during the recent decade our foreign policy and economic relations led not to development of ties with Russia but worsened them. Hasty decisions of the Russian government forced the Armenian people and power structures to turn to other political players," he said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |