Thursday, June 29 2017 12:23

ArmInfo.In the frozen Karabakh conflict, Russia needs to remain only an intermediary between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is noted in a report published on June 29,  headed by former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, head of  the Center  for Strategic Research, dedicated to Russia's foreign policy and  positioning in the world for 2017-2024.

Russia also has to keep on with  efforts to resolve the Karabakh  conflict, return to discussing the draft resolution of the  Transnistrian problem. Further normalization of relations with  Georgia, restoration of diplomatic relations and visa-free regime  with Tbilisi, and the promotion of reconciliation between Georgia and  Abkhazia and South Ossetia are needed, "the CSR report says. The  authors of the report believe that Ukraine as a partner has been lost  to Russia for a long time. And although Russia has reunited with the  Crimea, has solved the problem of basing the Black Sea Fleet, blocked  the long-term membership of Ukraine in NATO, all this has given rise  to a number of new serious problems and Russia for Ukraine today is a  strategic adversary.

According to the report, confrontation with the West is causing  irreparable damage to Russia. Russia needs to overcome the  backwardness in the development of the economy and governance  institutions that threatens the sovereignty of the country, and  participate in globalization. According to their estimates, despite  the fact that Russia remains one of the most powerful countries in  the world militarily, the country lags behind in a number of  critically important areas, which, in turn, undermines the country's  sovereignty and limits its foreign policy. According to CSR experts,  Russia in relations with the West should focus on minimizing the  risks of armed conflict, the gradual settlement of conflicts in the  post-Soviet space, the phasing-out of mutual sanctions and  discriminatory regimes, a return to full-fledged economic  cooperation.

"Russia faces the most complex challenges of internal development,  and from their decision will determine he future role of Russia in  the world. Flexible and the country's pragmatic policy should  contribute to a soft end Reorganization of international relations  and prevent a new "era Extremes, "the authors of the report  summarize.