Simon Kopadze: Joint Declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia will weaken Russia’s influence in the region

The Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington will significantly weaken Russia’s influence in the region, Simon Kopadze, Director of the Georgian-Azerbaijani Relations Development Fund, told Report’s Georgian bureau while assessing the August 8 Azerbaijan–Armenia–US meeting in Washington, the initialing of the peace agreement, and the future prospects for the region.

According to the expert, Russia’s role in the South Caucasus is practically disappearing:

“Their policy can hardly be called a policy – it is behavior based on personal interests and colonial relations. They still do not view the former Soviet republics as independent states. This meeting has had a serious impact on reducing Russia’s influence in the region, as its role in the South Caucasus is virtually disappearing.”

Kopadze praised Ilham Aliyev’s role in the peace process:

“The uniqueness of Ilham Aliyev is that, despite being the victor, he treats Pashinyan as a partner. He not only extended a hand of partnership but also courageously extended that hand to his enemy. This is a rare example of nobility.”