ArmInfo.The scientific conference "Armenia and Russia: realities, challenges and  opportunities" will have a positive impact on the development of Armenian-Russian interstate relations. On July 20, during the meeting with participants of the scientific conference, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian stated.

ArmInfo.Perfectly understanding  that Aliyev in Azerbaijan is not a surname, but a position, comparing  Ilham Aliyev's speeches on the results of 2016 and 2017 in the  government, it should be noted that in the first he spoke about  economic instability, meaning the fall in oil prices, which became a  serious challenge for the Azerbaijani economy. The Russian analyst  Sergei Markedonov at the international conference in Yerevan  expressed opinion.

Sergey Markedonov, a Russian analyst and specialist for  the South Caucasus, in his  interview with ArmInfo comments on the Armenian "velvet revolution", shares the forecast for the further development of the situation. He talks about external and internal factors that contribute to and impede changes in the country's foreign policy. 

ArmInfo. The danger of the transfer of contradictions from other regions to the Caucasus will persist, and as a result, require special attention, and in 2018. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo famous Russian analyst Sergei Markedonov. "The Karabakh settlement is the most dangerous point of the South Caucasus in 2018, which is currently the only platform on which the West and Russia interact, the unwillingness of the opposing sides to compromise, the unwillingness of the mediating countries to view Karabakh as a problem for which they could neglect their own contradictions , leaves geopolitical uncertainty for the South Caucasus relevant, "the analyst believes. The forthcoming presidential elections and internal political changes in Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2018 are considered by Markedonov in the context of lowering the already low chances for the way of political elites of the conflicting countries towards mutual concessions and compromises. That is why the analyst explains the intensification of the negotiation process in the last months of 2017. According to him, accompanied by imprudent statements and promises, the election campaign is dangerous with the ability to provoke violations on the contact line in Karabakh and, most riskily, along the actual Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. "Given the lack of effective prescriptions to prevent this scenario, it remains to hope only for the refusal of the elites to rock the geopolitical pendulum because of their unwillingness to aggravate the internal political situation in the election year." There are hopes for the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries, "he said. Markedonov is convinced that there is no guarantee that Washington will not use Caucasian plots as an additional resource of pressure on Moscow. According to him, any buildup of military cooperation between the US and Georgia is quite capable of changing the existing status quo around Georgia, which is relatively stable, especially in comparison with Karabakh. "In this light, it seems that many of the risks and surprises for the Caucasus in 2018 are hidden not so much in intra-regional dynamics as in external factors, especially in the light of the complete unpredictability of US relations with Russia and Iran," Markedonov concluded.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.The maximum expectations of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group from the intensification of the negotiation process on the Karabakh settlement, observed in the wake of the curtain of 2017, is the return of meaningfulness to the negotiation process. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo Russian analyst Sergei Markedonov.

ArmInfo. The signing of Armenia-EU framework agreement is by no means the result of Yerevan's "second attempt", as the document on "comprehensive and expanded  partnership" for the creation of a free trade zone does not provide  for. Such an opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by Russian analyst  Sergei Markedonov

ArmInfo. Recep Erdogan returned to the Karabakh issue after the Sochi talks with Vladimir Putin is not accidental. And Moscow's unwillingness to go for  unmotivated exchanges in the Karabakh issue does not mean loss of  Turkish interest in Trans Caucasus and the Black Sea region, such an   opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by the Russian expert Sergei  Markedonov.

ArmInfo. To assume that Moscow will go to certain "exchanges" by implementing the so-called plan of Lavrov today there are no grounds. A similar opinion was  expressed by ArmInfo Russian analyst Sergei Markedonov.

ArmInfo. The European vector is likely to remain important, but an additional direction of the main Russian vector of Armenia, such an opinion was expressed by the  Russian analyst Sergey Markedonov.

ArmInfo. Prospects for signing of the Agreement on Comprehensive and Extended Partnership by Yerevan and Brussels are assessed differently, mainly based on Armenia's rejection of association with EU on September 3, 2013, such an  opinion was expressed  by the Russian analyst Sergey Markedonov

ArmInfo. The balance of power in the region has never been violated. The Russian analyst, expert on the South Caucasus Sergey Markedonov, expressed such an opinion on November 3 in Yerevan in a conversation with journalists on a question of ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. The upcoming  meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Moscow  in mid-November on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is another round  of talks aimed at saving the negotiation process. On November 3,  Sergey Markedonov, a Russian analyst, expert on the South Caucasus,  told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter in the margins of his 3rd  international scientific and practical forum "Problems of National  Security in the Context of Globalization and Integration Processes"  in Yerevan.

ArmInfo.The constructive atmosphere of the Geneva talks between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev is a kind of clue that allows keeping the peace process on Karabakh from slipping into the abyss, Russian analyst Sergey Markedonov expressed such an opinion. 

ArmInfo.Compliance with the rules of the "basic principles" is not a whim, but Yerevan's recognition of the existing realities. Complex and contradictory,  which, according to the will of the crowd or due to the fantasies of  other "geopolitical designers", cannot be canceled, Russian analyst  Sergei Markedonov expressed such an opinion to ArmInfo. 

ArmInfo.Preparing Edward Nalbandyan for concessions on the eve of talks with his Baku counterpart to resolve the conflict without taking Stepanakert's positions into account would mean considerable internal political risks. Moreover, not only for him personally, but for the entire power elite of Armenia. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo Russian analyst Sergei Markedonov.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. Visit of the Minister of Regional Cooperation of Israel Tsakhi Anegbi to Armenia - clarification of positions, perhaps an invitation to a systemic  dialogue on economic and security issues. This opinion was voiced by  the Russian analyst, expert in the South Caucasus Sergey Markedonov.

ArmInfo.The growth of Israel's interest in Transcaucasus and Central Asia from year to year is difficult to notice. Russian analyst, expert on the South Caucasus  Sergey Markedonov expressed such an opinion to ArmInfo. 

ArmInfo.Involvement of Azerbaijan in various transport and energy projects of Russia is of some concern. Such an opinion was expressed by ArmInfo Russian analyst Sergei Markedonov, commenting on July 21 in Sochi Vladimira Putina met with President Ilham Aliyev."And, for example, about this project strengthens Russian ally Armenia's isolation, potentially being treated as part of the Transcaucasian ligament with the EU via Turkey completion of construction of the Baku-Akhalkalaki- Tbilisi-Kars railway was announced shortly before the Sochi meeting between Putin and Aliyev.