168 Zham: Lavrov ‘to return’ debt to Baku after Yerevan visit

^{© Photo: RIA Novosti} 

Sergey Lavrov’s statements in Yerevan were, all in all, within the logic of the diplomatic etiquette, a Moscow-based political analyst said Tuesday, commenting on the Russian foreign minister’s recent visit to Armenia and negotiations with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“What the ‘hosts’ were expected to like was an acceptable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - to the peoples of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. And I think Azerbaijan has been given explanations behind the scenes as much as that particular statement was concerned. Moreover, I think there will be a visit to Baku in the near future, which I expect to be held in as lovely an atmosphere as the visit to Yerevan. All Russia ‘owes’ to the Azerbaijan will be returned in the course of the upcoming visit to Baku. Hence, no need at all to try to see what is actually missing in the entire process,” Vadim Dubov is quoted as telling the paper.  

Commenting on the latest developments on the Armenian-Russian agenda, particularly, the plan to double the capacities of the 102nd military base and the drafting of a memorandum of understanding dealing with biosafety issues, the expert evaluated them as “ritual achievements” in the bilateral relations.

“I don’t think the Russian military base in Gyumri is a military factor; it bears an absolutely ritual character. As regards the laboratories, it was obvious and plain from the outset that they aren’t going to find anything there. That’s just an important measure that had to be taken considering Armenia’s engagement with Russia. It is striking, actually, in the comparative perspective, i.e. – when we compare the approaches between Yerevan and those capital cities with such laboratories, with which Russia does not have a similar memorandum,” he added.

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