Tuesday, September 6 2022 19:11

ArmInfo.It is the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict that arouses the European Union's  interest in them as of today, accordingly, it is an opportunity for  EU  to participate in Caucasian affairs through its moderation,  thereby competing with Russia. Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director of  the Valdai Discussion Club expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"This is where many of Brussels' overtures to Yerevan and Baku come  from. For example, the recent actual invitation to participate in the  unofficial EU summit in Prague. But all this does not mean at all  that Armenia and Azerbaijan have a prospect of joining the EU, due to  the lack of resources for the latter's expansion. Moreover, this  position of the EU is shared in Yerevan and Baku, at least now," he  said.  

One way or another, but according to the analyst, impulses  continue to come from Brussels in the direction of expanding its own  influence, including in the South Caucasus. The goal is to level the  obstacles in the way of their own mediation in the settlement of  Armenian-Azerbaijani problems with the subsequent transformation of  Armenia and Azerbaijan into loyal partners, following the example of  Georgia.  According to Lukyanov, in addition to such declarative and  demonstrative manifestations, Brussels can actually offer the  countries of the South Caucasus, albeit significant, but only  financial injections.  Geopolitical regional problems and  contradictions "on the ground" are solved by Moscow, which has great  levers and mechanisms, as well as influence. 

"One way or another, but perfectly understanding all this, the  European Union mobilized all its resources against the Russian  Federation in the post-Soviet space, in particular, in the direction  covered by the Eastern Partnership. And if everything is more or less  clear with Belarus at this stage, then the European bureaucracy and  some leaders of the EU countries are actively fighting for the  membership of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova in the EU.  

In the case of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Brussels, without demanding to  determine the vector of development immediately, integrates them  gradually, strengthening its own presence and cooperation in the  processes of resolving problems in the region. Meanwhile, a couple of  years ago, such requirements were actively put forward," the analyst  summed up.