Thomas de Waal: Russia will possess the main "playing card" (video)
Azerbaijan may reach an agreement with Russia over deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone, says Thomas de Waal, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “Azerbaijan may really be changing its position. Recently, we have observed some rapprochement between Moscow and Baku. if peacekeeping troops are deployed in the Karabakh conflict zone, it is clear that they will not be solely Russian peacekeepers because France and the US also have their “say” here. . Anyway, Thomas de Waal says if the events are developing in a way that Russia will possess the main “playing card” in these peacekeeping operations. Speaking at a Friday discussion on the escalation of tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, political analyst Aghasi Yenokyan said Azerbaijan is committed to the idea of deploying Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone. Azerbaijan realizes that it is its last chance to start a war, given the drop in oil prices. The country’s leadership can account the sharp decline in living standards on the war,” he said adding that Azerbaijan understands that it can get grab something from Karabakh through Russia. Azerbaijan has not the sufficient military potential to launch large-scale hostilities. Thomas de Waal says Azerbaijan has not the sufficient military potential to launch large-scale hostilities Political analyst Manvel Grigoryan believes that Azerbaijan’s primary goal is to freeze the status quo. “”They are doing everything possible to force the international community, their regional neighbours and Armenia to accept their position.”
