Did Aliyev leave St. Petersburg to perpetrate sally?
"The attack of Azerbaijani sabotage unit on Karabakh positions was an attempt to exert pressure on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs," political scientist Erwand Bozoyan said.
"Perpetration of the Azeri recon element immediately after the St. Petersburg meeting between Presidents Serzh Sargsyan, Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev is not a mere coincidence. Azerbaijan wants to show that it is impossible to preserve Karabakh's status quo. This is a demonstrative step which can be repeated and even transferred to large-scale operations."
"Ilham Aliyev left St. Petersburg without participating in the International Economic Forum. He left to organize the sally. I think that Serzh Sargsyan was to leave the city as well after expressing a tough stance.
Unfortunately, Armenia started to address the mediators, which further weakened Armenia's stance. With its posture, Armenia will encourage Azerbaijan to organize new attacks," the political scientist said.
Nevertheless, Mr. Bozoyan says Armenia should proceed with negotiations regardless of Azerbaijan's bellicose statements and stance.
"The sides have been negotiating for ten years, and everyone came to realize that it would be difficult for Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a common language. Yet, no one saw a menace of war. After Armenia changed its stance and started normalizing relations with Turkey, everyone, including the Minsk Group and Azerbaijan, noted Armenia's weak points."
The political scientist salutes Karabakh's return attack. "Moreover, I think that the NKR President should personally answer the Azerbaijani subversive attack. Obviously, Azerbaijan is reconnoitering our positions and preparing for serious attacks. Experts think that Azerbaijan is plotting military operations," he concluded.
