Armenian experts hold Azerbaijan responsible for outcome of meeting of Ilham Aliev and Serzh Sargsyan in Saint Petersburg

Armenian experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" do not expect great progress from the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Saint Petersburg. Meanwhile, political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan emphasizes the importance to continue the dialogue, and MP Artak Zakaryan notes the need to establish the mechanisms for investigation of incidents at the border.

On June 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin shall meet Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliev, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively, and after that, the trilateral meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh will be held. This was reported by Yuri Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.

Armenia intends to discuss the agreements reached during the Vienna meeting on May 16. This was reported by Artak Zakaryan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia, an MP from the ruling Republican Party. He has also added that the outcome of the meeting will depend on the position of Azerbaijan.

According to Lieutenant General Vagarshak Arutyunyan, the former Minister of Defence of Armenia, every time, by threatening to start a war, Azerbaijan tries to force the Armenian side to make concessions.

Vagarshak Arutyunyan believes that the solution to the conflict through negotiations is unacceptable for Azerbaijan; however, the country will also not be able to reach the peace by military means.

The interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides always contradict each other, believes Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute. According to him, at present, there is an attempt to revive the Minsk process to urge the parties to meet. Meanwhile, Alexander Iskandaryan believes that it is impossible to conclude an agreement without involvement of Karabakh.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.