United States, its western allies to continue opposing Russia`s  Eurasian policy and Turkey`s neo-Ottoman policy - Robert Gevondyan

ArmInfo. The appointment of Philip Thomas Reeker as U.S. Co- Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and refusal of the U.S. and French ambassadors to Azerbaijan to visit  occupied Shushi are rather strong evidence of substantial  disagreement of Washington and Paris with the post-war realities in  the region, political scientist Robert Gevondyan said in an interview  with ArmInfo.

"Amid the absence of a mutual deterrence system in the South  Caucasus, such confrontation between the Collective West and the main  beneficiaries of the 44-day war, Russia and Turkey, means both  opportunities and new challenges for Armenia. In other words, it is  rather ample room for Armenia to advance its interests by comparing  them with the major external actors' interests," he said. 

Any error in this game could result in rather grave consequences for  Armenia, whereas any success could be of crucial importance. At  present, the "post-war affiliation" of Armenia and Azerbaijan to  Russia has not so far undergone any substantial changes. However, the  actual inactivity of the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairs in the wake of  the war resulted in Moscow and Brussels replacing them as venues for  the talks. 

Brussels is representing Washington as well. Thus, the EU is serving  as the focus for two of the three MG co-chairs. The effectiveness of  the simultaneous activities of the Moscow and Brussels venues can  only be assessed after a relative balance of forces in the  conflict-affected region has been established, while all the major  and minor actors are accumulating political capital. 

"As to the United States, it has been resuming its activity in the  South Caucasus since Joe Biden was elected president. The appointment  of a new OSCE co-chair by the U.S. and the 'Shushi demarche' are part  of this process. And in this particular case, these actions are a  response to the long-term disregard for Washington's interests by  Russia in partnership with Turkey," Mr Gevordyan said. 

In the foreseeable future, the United States and its western allies  will continue actively opposing Russia's Eurasian policy and Turkey's  neo-Ottoman policy. The regional policy Ankara and Moscow are  pursuing now is aimed at dividing the region between themselves, Mr  Gevordyan said.