In 2014 Russia will maintain a strong position in all three Caucasian states this year , although the US- Iranian talks open doors for gradually activation of Iran and Turkey in the region, President of the Jamestown Foundation Glen Howard said, as Turan reported.
"Iran will seek to increase the social and political influence in Azerbaijan, while Turkey will try to mediate in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh in an attempt to restore relations with Armenia. Nevertheless, both Turkey and Iran should decide too serious problem in other areas this year to make significant progress in the Caucasus , which will allow Russia to maintain a dominant role in the region", - he added.
Russia is too busy with Ukraine to take a tough stance on Georgia and Moldova , objected the President of the Jamestown Foundation, Glen Howard. According to him, the attempts of Vladimir Putin to keep influence in post-Soviet states threaten the security of its own position in the Kremlin.
Howard is convinced, that support of Georgia's joining the European Union is much more powerful than in Ukraine, and even if "Vladimir Putin attempts to use the same pressure as in Ukraine , his efforts will fail."
"The cry of Navalni" "stop feeding the Caucasus" is replaced now by another call "stop to feed Ukraine," says Howard. If the Russians wake up and feel that their country buys Ukraine, as well as Germany bought Greece, Putin may have serious problems at home, especially in an economic downturn in Russia."