Eduard Shevarnadze: "To speak of peace in the Caucasus, it is necessary to establish relations of Azerbaijan and Armenia"

"To speak of peace in the Caucasus, it is necessary to establish relations of Azerbaijan and Armenia i.e. to settle the conflict over Karabakh, to settle problems with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the North Caucasus some peoples are also speaking of independence, in particular, Ingush people. Only after settlement of these problems one can speak about Caucasian peaceful space", Shevardnadze said. As regards the stances of the neighbor-states during the August events, ex-president of Georgia said:

"I think we have no right to present any claims to our neighbors, especially, Azerbaijan. They always morally and psychologically supported Georgia. The situation with Armenia differs a little. Russia's influence is very big there. There are Russian military bases there. They are more restricted. Asked about the information that Russian aviation bases in Gyumri were used during the August incidents, Eduard Shevardnadze said: "If Russia coordinated its actions with the Armenian leadership I don't think that Armenians would agree with that. It is not in their favor".

As regards the opinion that the key to settlement of conflicts in the Caucasus is in Moscow, Shevardnadze believes that it is right to some extent. "But Russia has already faced its own problems. It will no longer be able to come out against progressive ideas originating in the Caucasus so decisively. Russia will find itself in deep crisis. OPEC member-states cut petroleum recovery and it cannot prevent that. It also reduces petroleum recovery and sale, as well as gas and wood production. All this affects the budget, which in its turn affects the military capacity and potential".

/ArmInfo/