GEOPOLITIC: Azerbaijan the only country through which Russia can exert influence on South Caucasus, says Azerbaijani political scientist (trendaz.com)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 /Trend News, N.Abdullayeva/ Azerbaijan is the only country through which Russia can exert influence on the South Caucasus, said Rasim Musabayov, an independent Azerbaijani political scientist. 2008 was marked by the fact that the Caucasus region was caught up in the sphere of rivalry among great powers, Musabayov said at the conference The South Caucasus: Geopolitical Outcome of 2008. “The main event of 2008 was the Georgia-Russia conflict,” he said.
In the early morning of 8 Aug, large-scale military actions commenced in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali. Later Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and forced back the Georgian servicemen. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states on 26 Aug and established diplomatic relations with them on 9 Sep.
According to the political scientist, in this complicated situation, European Union, Russia, and the United States sought support from Azerbaijan in South Caucasus. “The new format of peaceful coexistence is the only way for Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Russia,” said Rashad Rzaguliev, President of the Azerbaijan Social Research Fund.

Source newstrendaz.com