Russian influence in the South Caucasus exists due to relations with Armenia – analyst
29.04.2015,
12:12
The influence Russia has in the South Caucasus comes from its relations with Armenia, Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan said on Sputnik Armenia radio channel, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.
YEREVAN, April 29. /ARKA/. The influence Russia has in the South Caucasus comes from its relations with Armenia, Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan said on Sputnik Armenia radio channel, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.
“Armenia is a key South Caucasus country for Russia and cannot be replaced by anything else. Importance of Russia to us is, of course, even greater. But Russia cannot substitute Armenia with Georgia, or Azerbaijan, or South Ossetia, Iran or Turkey. Russia uses its influence in the region due to the current format of its relationship with Armenia, and Putin has confirmed it,” Iskandaryan said.
“I mean the strategic, political and other influence. Withdrawing from Armenia Russian will lose not only Armenia, but at least the South Caucasus and maybe even the entire southern direction,” the political analyst said. –0—
